Comparison of the Tubular Approach and Uniportal Interlaminar Full-Endoscopic Approach in the Treatment of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: Our 3-Year Results.

BACKGROUND: To report the long-term results of patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), for whom we applied the tubular and endoscopic approaches and previously published the short-term results. METHODS: A multicenter, prospective, randomized, double-blind study was carried out to evaluate 2 groups of patients with LSS who underwent microsurgery via a tubular retractor with a unilateral approach (T group) and bilateral spinal decompression using uniportal interlaminar endoscopic approaches (E group). Dural sac cross-sectional and spinal canal cross-sectional areas were measured with the patients' preoperative and postoperative magnetic resonance images. The visual analog scale, Oswestry Disability Index, and Japanese Orthopedic Association scores in the preoperative period and the first, second, and third years after surgery were evaluated. RESULTS: Twenty patients met the inclusion criteria for the research (T group; n = 10, E group; n = 10). The groups' visual analog scale (respectively; P = 0.315, P = 0.529, and P = 0.853), Oswestry Disability Index (respectively; P = 0.529, P = 0.739, and P = 0.912), and Japanese Orthopedic Association (respectively; P = 0.436, P =0.853, and P = 0.684) scores from the first, second, and third postoperative years were quite good compared with the preoperative period, but there was no statistically significant difference. A significant difference was found in the E group, with less blood loss (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The long-term results of the patients with LSS treated with tubular and endoscopic approaches were similar and very good. Bilateral decompression with minimally invasive spinal surgery methods can be completed with less tissue damage, complications, and blood loss with the unilateral approach.

In-vivo evidence of systemic endothelial vascular dysfunction in COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Endothelial dysfunction is one of the underlying mechanisms to vascular and cardiac complications in patients with COVID-19. We sought to investigate the systemic vascular endothelial function and its temporal changes in COVID-19 patients from a non-invasive approach with reactive hyperemia peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT). METHODS: This is a prospective, observational, case-control and blinded study. The population was comprised by 3 groups: patients investigated during acute COVID-19 (group 1), patients investigated during past COVID-19 (group 2), and controls 1:1 matched to COVID-19 patients by demographics and cardiovascular risk factors (group 3). The natural logarithmic scaled reactive hyperemia index (LnRHI), a measure of endothelium-mediated dilation of peripheral arteries, was obtained in all the participants and compared between study groups. RESULTS: 144 participants were enrolled (72 COVID-19 patients and 72 matched controls). Median time from COVID-19 symptoms to PAT assessment was 9.5 and 101.5 days in groups 1 and 2, respectively. LnRHI was significantly lower in group 2 compared to both group 1 and controls (0.53 ± 0.23 group 2 vs. 0.72 ± 0.26 group 1, p = 0.0043; and 0.79 ± 0.23 in group 3, p < 0.0001). In addition, within group 1, it was observed a markedly decrease in LnRHI from acute COVID-19 to post infection stage (0.73 ± 0.23 vs. 0.42 ± 0.26, p = 0.0042). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests a deleterious effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection on systemic vascular endothelial function. These findings open new venues to investigate the clinical implication and prognostic role of vascular endothelial dysfunction in COVID-19 patients and post-COVID syndrome using non-invasive techniques.

Supra and infratentorial massive strokes in previously healthy young patients with SARS-CoV-2. The role of neurosurgery / Ictus masivos supra e infratentoriales en pacientes jóvenes previamente sanos con SARS-CoV-2. El rol de la neurocirugía

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has amazed by its distinct forms of presentation and severity. COVID-19 patients can develop large-scale ischemic strokes in previously healthy patients without risk factors, especially in patients who develop an acute respiratory distress syndrome (SARS-CoV-2). We hypothesize that ischemic events are usually the result of the combined process of a pro-inflammatory and pro-coagulant state plus vascular endothelial dysfunction probably potentiated by hypoxia, hemodynamic instability, and immobilization, as reported in other cases. To the best of our knowledge, we report the first case of partial obstruction of a vertebral artery in a patient with COVID-19. Decompressive surgery remains a life-saving maneuver in these patients (as in other non-COVID-19 strokes) and requires further investigation (AU)

La enfermedad por coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) ha sorprendido por sus distintas formas de presentación y gravedad. Los pacientes con COVID-19 pueden desarrollar accidentes cerebrovasculares isquémicos a gran escala, incluso aquellos previamente sanos, sin factores de riesgo, y especialmente los que desarrollan un síndrome de dificultad respiratoria aguda (SARS-CoV-2). Presumimos que los eventos isquémicos son generalmente el resultado del proceso combinado de un estado proinflamatorio y procoagulante, más una posible disfunción endotelial vascular, probablemente potenciada por hipoxia, inestabilidad hemodinámica e inmovilización, como se ha reportado en otros casos. Hasta nuestro conocimiento reportamos el primer caso de una obstrucción parcial de una arteria vertebral en un paciente con COVID-19. La cirugía descompresiva sigue siendo una maniobra que salva vidas (como en otros accidentes cerebrovasculares que no están relacionados con la COVID-19) y requiere más investigación (AU)

Supra and infratentorial massive strokes in previously healthy young patients with SARS-CoV-2. The role of neurosurgery.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has amazed by its distinct forms of presentation and severity. COVID-19 patients can develop large-scale ischemic strokes in previously healthy patients without risk factors, especially in patients who develop an acute respiratory distress syndrome (SARS-CoV-2). We hypothesize that ischemic events are usually the result of the combined process of a pro-inflammatory and pro-coagulant state plus vascular endothelial dysfunction probably potentiated by hypoxia, hemodynamic instability, and immobilization, as reported in other cases. To the best of our knowledge, we report the first case of partial obstruction of a vertebral artery in a patient with COVID-19. Decompressive surgery remains a life-saving maneuver in these patients (as in other non-COVID-19 strokes) and requires further investigation.

Comparative Study Between Uniportal Full-Endoscopic Interlaminar and Tubular Approach in the Treatment of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A Pilot Study.

STUDY DESIGN: Multicenter, prospective, randomized, and double-blinded study. OBJECTIVES: To compare tubular and endoscopic interlaminar approach. METHODS: Patients with lumbar spinal stenosis and neurogenic claudication of were randomized to tubular or endoscopic technique. Enrollment period was 12 months. Clinical follow up at 1, 3, 6 months after surgery with visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score. Radiologic evaluation with magnetic resonance pre- and postsurgery. RESULTS: Twenty patients were enrolled: 10 in tubular approach (12 levels) and 10 in endoscopic approach (11 levels). The percentage of enlargement of the spinal canal was higher in endoscopic approach (202%) compared with tubular approach (189%) but was not statistically significant (P = .777). The enlargement of the dural sac was higher in endoscopic group (209%) compared with tubular group (203%) but no difference was found between the 2 groups (P = .628). A modest significant correlation was found between the percentage of spinal canal decompression and enlargement of the dural sac (r = 0.5, P = .023). Both groups reported a significant clinical improvement postsurgery. However, no significant association was found between the percentage of enlargement of the spinal canal or the dural sac and clinical improvement as determined by scales scores. Endoscopic group had lower intrasurgical bleeding (P < .001) and lower disability at 6 months of follow-up than tubular group (p=0.037). CONCLUSIONS: In the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis, endoscopic technique allows similar decompression of the spinal canal and the dural sac, lower intrasurgical bleeding, similar symptoms improvement, and lower disability at 6 months of follow-up, as compared with the tubular technique.