The Impact of Preoperative Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Postoperative Outcomes in Lumbar Spine Degenerative Disease: 3-Month and 12-Month Results of a Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: We previously reported inpatient and 30-day postoperative patient-reported outcomes (PROs) of a controlled, noncrossover pilot study using preoperative mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) training for lumbar spine surgery. Our goal here was to assess 3-month and 12-month postoperative PROs of preoperative MBSR in lumbar spine surgery for degenerative disease. METHODS: Intervention group participants were prospectively enrolled in a preoperative online MBSR course. A comparison standard care only group was one-to-one matched retrospectively by age, sex, surgery type, and prescription opioid use. Three-month and 12-month postoperative PROs for pain, disability, quality of life, and opioid use were compared within and between groups. Regression models were used to assess whether MBSR use predicted outcomes. RESULTS: Twenty-four participants were included in each group. At 3 months, follow-up was 87.5% and 95.8% in the comparison and intervention groups, respectively. In the intervention group, mean Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-Physical Function (PROMIS-PF) was significantly higher, whereas mean Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-Pain Interference (PROMIS-PI) and Oswestry Disability Index were significantly lower. The change from baseline in mean PROMIS-PF and PROMIS-PI was significantly greater than in the comparison group. At 12 months, follow-up was 58.3% and 83.3% in the comparison and intervention groups, respectively. In the intervention group, mean PROMIS-PI was significantly lower and change in mean PROMIS-PI from baseline was significantly greater. MBSR use was a significant predictor of change in PROMIS-PF at 3 months and in PROMIS-PI at 12 months. No adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Three-month and 12-month results suggest that preoperative MBSR may have pain control benefits in lumbar spine surgery.

Minimizing Blood Loss in Spine Surgery.

STUDY DESIGN: Broad narrative review. OBJECTIVE: To review and summarize the current literature on guidelines, outcomes, techniques and indications surrounding multiple modalities of minimizing blood loss in spine surgery. METHODS: A thorough review of peer-reviewed literature was performed on the guidelines, outcomes, techniques, and indications for multiple modalities of minimizing blood loss in spine surgery. RESULTS: There is a large body of literature that provides a consensus on guidelines regarding the appropriate timing of discontinuation of anticoagulation, aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and herbal supplements prior to surgery. Additionally, there is a more heterogenous discussion the utility of preoperative autologous blood donation facilitated by erythropoietin and iron supplementation for healthy patients slated for procedures with high anticipated blood loss and for whom allogeneic transfusion is likely. Intraoperative maneuvers available to minimize blood loss include positioning and maintaining normothermia. Tranexamic acid (TXA), bipolar sealer electrocautery, and topical hemostatic agents, and hypotensive anesthesia (mean arterial pressure (MAP) <65 mm Hg) should be strongly considered in cases with larger exposures and higher anticipated blood loss. There is strong level 1 evidence for the use of TXA in spine surgery as it reduces the overall blood loss and transfusion requirements. CONCLUSION: As the volume and complexity of spinal procedures rise, intraoperative blood loss management has become a pivotal topic of research within the field. There are many tools for minimizing blood loss in patients undergoing spine surgery. The current literature supports combining techniques to use a cost- effective multimodal approach to minimize blood loss in the perioperative period.

The Impact of Preoperative Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Postoperative Patient-Reported Pain, Disability, Quality of Life, and Prescription Opioid Use in Lumbar Spine Degenerative Disease: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Prescription opioid medications negatively affect postoperative outcomes after lumbar spine surgery. Furthermore, opioid-related overdose death rates in the United States increased by 200% between 2000 and 2014. Thus, alternatives are imperative. Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), a mind-body therapy, has been associated with improved activity and mood in opioid-using patients with chronic pain. This study assessed whether preoperative MBSR is an effective adjunct to standard postoperative care in adult patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery for degenerative disease. METHODS: The intervention group underwent a preoperative online MBSR course. The comparison group was matched retrospectively in a 1:1 ratio by age, sex, type of surgery, and preoperative opioid use. Prescription opioid use during hospital admission and at 30 days postoperatively were compared with preoperative use. Thirty-day postoperative patient-reported outcomes for pain, disability, and quality of life were compared with preoperative patient-reported outcomes. Dose-response effect of mindfulness courses was assessed using Mindful Attention Awareness Scale scores. RESULTS: In this pilot study, 24 participants were included in each group. Most intervention patients (70.83%) completed 1 session, and the mean Mindful Attention Awareness Scale score was 4.28 ± 0.71 during hospital admission. At 30 days, mean visual analog scale back pain score was lower in the intervention group (P = 0.004) but other patient-reported outcomes did not differ. CONCLUSIONS: During hospital admission, no significant dose-response effect of mindfulness techniques was found. At 30 days postoperatively, MBSR use was associated with less back pain. Further research is needed to assess the effectiveness of preoperative MBSR on postoperative outcomes in lumbar spine surgery for degenerative disease.

Treating the Aging Spine.

Demographic trends make it incumbent on orthopaedic spine surgeons to recognize the special challenges involved in caring for older patients with spine pathology. Unique pathologies, such as osteoporosis and degenerative deformities, must be recognized and treated. Recent treatment options and recommendations for the medical optimization of bone health include vitamin D and calcium supplementation, diphosphonates, and teriparatide. Optimizing spinal fixation in elderly patients who have osteoporosis is critical; cement augmentation of pedicle screws is promising. In the management of geriatric odontoid fractures, nonsurgical support with a collar may be considered for low-demand patients, whereas surgical fixation is favored for high-demand patients. Management of degenerative deformity must address sagittal plane balance, which includes consideration of pelvic incidence. Various osteotomies may prove helpful in this setting.

Treating the Aging Spine.

Demographic trends make it incumbent on orthopaedic spine surgeons to recognize the special challenges involved in caring for older patients with spine pathology. Unique pathologies, such as osteoporosis and degenerative deformities, must be recognized and dealt with. Recent treatment options and recommendations for the medical optimization of bone health include vitamin D and calcium supplementation, diphosphonates, and teriparatide. Optimizing spinal fixation in elderly patients with osteoporosis is critical; cement augmentation of pedicle screws is promising. In the management of geriatric odontoid fractures, nonsurgical support with a collar may be considered for the low-demand patient, whereas surgical fixation is favored for high-demand patients. Management of degenerative deformity must address sagittal plane balance, including consideration of pelvic incidence. Various osteotomies may prove helpful in this setting.

Nonsurgical management of low back pain and lumbar disk degeneration.

Lumbar disk degeneration is a ubiquitous and complex phenomenon. The etiology varies widely and may be dificult to identify. Many techniques have been proposed to manage the pain and disability resulting from disk degeneration. Medicines, bed rest, orthotics, physical therapy, chiropractics, selective injections, and intradiskal electrothermal therapy have been used. Some of these therapies have been more successful than others, but most have at least some role in the current techniques of helping patients deal with this syndrome. How best to use these tools in conjunction with patient education is critical to success.