Clinical comparison between simple laminectomy and laminectomy plus posterior instrumentation in surgical treatment of cervical myelopathy.

BACKGROUND: Posterior stabilization in patients treated with laminectomy for spondylotic cervical myelopathy is still a debate. Despite both being reported in literature by several authors, some controversies still exist. The aim of this study is to compare clinical and radiological outcomes in patients treated with laminectomy or laminectomy with posterior stabilization. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 42 patients affected by cervical myelopathy (mean age 70.43 ± 5.03 years), 19 treated with laminectomy (group A) and 23 with laminectomy and posterior instrumentation (group B). Neurological status was assessed with Nurick scale, pain with VAS and radiological parameters with C2-C7 SVA, T1 slope and C2-C7 lordosis, clinical function with modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association score (JOA). Also, surgery time and blood loss were recorded. Student's t test was used for continuous variables, while Kruskal-Wallis test was used for categorical values. RESULTS: No differences were found in postoperative Nurick scale (p = 0.587), VAS (p = 0.62), mJOA (p = 0.197) and T1 slope (p = 0.559), while laminectomy with fusion showed better postoperative cervical lordosis (p = 0.007) and C2-C7 SVA (p < 0.00001), but higher blood loss (p < 0.00001) and surgical time (p < 0.00001). Both groups showed better Nurick scale (p = 0.00017 for group A and p = 0.00081 for group B), VAS (p = 0.02 for group A and p = 0.046 for group B) and mJOA (p < 0.00001 for both groups) than preoperative values. CONCLUSIONS: Both treatments are a valuable choice, offering some benefits and disadvantages against each other. Each procedure must be carefully evaluated on the basis of patients' general status, preoperative pain, signs of instability and potential benefits from cervical alignment correction.

Surgical treatment of osteoporotic thoraco-lumbar compressive fractures: the use of pedicle screw with augmentation PMMA.

INTRODUCTION: The osteoporosis prevalence in population is age related. The aim of this single-center observational study was evaluate the middle- to long-term performance of cement (PMMA) augmented fenestrated pedicle screws in elderly patients with thoraco-lumbar compressive fractures by osteoporosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2011 to 2015 we treated 52 patients (20 males and 32 females) suffering from somatic osteoporotic fractures (T10-L2). The average age was 73.4 years, with an age range between 65 and 82 years. The treatment consisted of stabilization with pedicle screw augmentation with PMMA cement. Patients were clinically evaluated with Visual Analyzing System scale (VAS scale) and with low back disability questionnaire Oswestry, in pre and post surgery and during the follow up at 12 and 24 months. RESULTS: A total of 410 fenestrated pedicle screws with PMMA augmentation were implanted. No cases of loosening or pulling out of screws were recorded. There have been n 3 cases of thrombophlebitis, treated with oral anticoagulant drugs and 1 case of post-operative death due to ventricular fibrillation. No neurological complications occurred during the study. The mean VAS score decreased from 8.5 to 4.8 and the result remained stable during follow up. Oswestry questionnaire showed a mean decrease of low back pain of 24% in post-op period. CONCLUSION: Fenestrated screws with PMMA augmentation offers a possibility to treat patients with reduced bone quality due to severe osteoporosis.

Posterior endoscopic discectomy (and other procedures).

Percutaneous approaches to lumbar discectomy were somewhat controversial, because of their limited indications. They have not proven to be as effective as standard open lumbar disc surgery, because of longer operating times and some technical problems in addressing all the different aspects of lumbar disc herniations. New percutaneous posterior procedures for lumbar disc disease have been described in the last few years, but the MicroEndoscopic Discectomy (MED) introduced by Foley and Smith in 1997 seems to be the most promising one. MED, and METR'x which evolved from it,. allow the surgeon to address not only contained lumbar disc herniations, but also free-fragment disc pathology and symptomatic lateral recess stenosis secondary to bony hypertrophy. The surgical technique is summarized and some preliminary clinical results of a prospective multicenter study with 13 months' mean follow-up are presented.