Systematic Review and Meta-analysis: Does Anterior-Posterior Spinal Fusion Still have a Role in Severe Thoracic Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis?

Background: Debate exists as to whether anterior-posterior spinal fusion (APSF), rather than posterior-only spinal fusion (PSF), provides benefit for treating severe thoracic adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). This systematic review and meta-analysis compare (1) Cobb angle correction, (2) complication and reoperation rate, (3) pulmonary function, (4) number of fused segments, and 5) patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in both groups. Methods: Electronic databases were searched to identify studies that met the following inclusion criteria: comparative studies (level 3 or above), severe thoracic curves (≥ 70°), age ≤ 16, AIS aetiology, Lenke 1-4 curves and follow-up ≥ 1 year for ≥ 95% of patient population. Literature was graded for quality and bias using GRADE and MINORS criteria. Results: Eight studies were included, defined by GRADE as low or moderate level evidence. Three studies showed superior curve correction in the APSF group; however, the meta-analysis showed no significant difference in curve correction between groups (95% CI - 3.45-12.96, P = 0.26). There were more complications in the APSF group, without statistical significance (95% CI 0.53-3.39, P = 0.54; I 2 = 0%, P = 0.78). There were no re-operations in either group. Two studies reported pulmonary function; one showed better function in the APSF group, the other better function in the PSF group. One study showed fewer fused segments in the APSF group, however, no significance was observed in the meta-analysis (95%CI - 1.65-0.31, P = 0.18). Three studies reported PROMs with no differences reported between groups. Conclusions: APSF and PSF have been found to have comparable results. The present evidence cannot support recommendations for guidelines on future practice with regards to effect on curve correction, complications, re-operations, pulmonary function or PROMs. Level of evidence: Level III, Systematic review of Level-III studies.

A Hemodynamic Safety Checklist Can Improve Blood Pressure Monitoring in Patients with Acute Spinal Cord Injury.

OBJECTIVE: The American Association and Congress of Neurological Surgeons recommended mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) in patients with acute spinal cord injury (SCI) should be 85-90 mm Hg for the first 7 days. We evaluated whether hemodynamic management differed between a primary-receiving and tertiary hospital in the first 24 hours for patients with acute SCI and assessed whether use of a checklist could improve hemodynamic management. METHODS: Observational review was performed of 79 patients with acute SCI before and after introduction of a blood pressure monitoring checklist and staff educational program designed to improve tertiary center management. Hemodynamic management in the primary-receiving hospital was compared with the tertiary center before and after checklist introduction. RESULTS: At the primary-receiving center, mean number of documented MAP readings/hour was 2.2 and 3 before and after checklist introduction. The proportion having >50% of MAP recordings <80 mm Hg was 26% and 22%. The proportion having >50% of MAP recordings <70 mm Hg was 8.5% and 7%. At the tertiary center, mean number of MAP readings/hour was 1.3 and 2.7 before and after checklist introduction (P = 0.02). The proportion having >50% of MAP recordings <80 mm Hg decreased from 36.5% to 16% after checklist introduction (P = 0.05). The proportion having >50% of MAP recordings <70 mm Hg decreased from 9% to 5.5% (P = 0.6). Polytrauma, inotrope use, and head injury significantly correlated with low MAP recordings (P < 0.05). Polytrauma was an independent risk predictor for low MAP recordings (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Achieving MAP targets for patients with acute SCI is challenging. Checklist use and staff education were associated with improved hemodynamic management. Presence of polytrauma identified patients at particular risk.

Results of Early and Late Surgical Decompression and Stabilization for Acute Traumatic Cervical Spinal Cord Injury in Patients with Concomitant Chest Injuries.

BACKGROUND: The benefits of early surgical decompression and stabilisation (within 24 hours of injury) for patients with acute traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is unclear. The study objective was to investigate the effects of early (<24 hours of injury) versus late (>24 hours of injury) decompressive and stabilisation surgery for traumatic cervical SCI in patients with concomitant chest injuries. METHODS: This was a retrospective study including adults aged 16 years or over with traumatic cervical SCI, Glasgow Coma Scale score >13, and concomitant chest injuries (e.g. hemopneumothoraces, flail chest and pulmonary contusions) necessitating intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Forty patients who met the inclusion criteria and underwent decompressive surgery within 24 hours were compared with 55 patients who underwent decompressive surgery after 24 hours. Primary outcomes were ordinal change in the ASIA Impairment Scale (AIS) at 6 months and duration of ICU stay. Secondary outcomes included complications occurring within 30 days. RESULTS: In the early surgery group, 21 patients (52.5%) showed no improvement in ASIA grade, 13 (32.5%) had a 1-grade improvement, and 6 (15%) had a 2-grade improvement. The median length of ICU stay was 14 days (range, 2-68). 42.5% of patients developed a complication and 45% required a tracheostomy. In the late surgery group, AIS grade improvement was as follows: 32 (58%) no improvement, 19 (34.5%) had a 1 grade improvement, 3 (5.5%) had a 2 grade improvement and 1 (2%) had a 3 grade improvement. Mean ICU stay was 23 days (4-68). 53% of patients developed a complication and 55% required a tracheostomy. There was one mortality in the late surgery group. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with acute traumatic cervical SCI and concomitant chest trauma, early surgical decompression and stabilisation was associated with reduced ICU stay and a lower complication rate. Neurological recovery was more likely in younger patients and those with an incomplete SCI.

Orthopaedic manifestations of congenital indifference to pain with anhidrosis (Hereditary Sensory and Autonomic Neuropathy type IV).

BACKGROUND: Congenital indifference to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA) is a rare hereditary neuropathy, which is associated with defective sensation to noxious stimuli and autonomic dysfunction. The objective of the study was to report on the orthopaedic manifestations of this condition and provide an evidence-based approach for management. METHODS: Retrospective review of 14 consecutive patients with CIPA referred to a single tertiary centre. Mean age of diagnosis was 2.5 years (range 0.5 to 11 years). RESULTS: Patients presented with a range of orthopaedic problems including fractures, infections, growth disturbance, joint subluxation and Charcot joints affecting the limbs and spine. Conservative treatment with closed reduction and cast immobilisation was satisfactory for stress fractures of the lower extremity and Charcot joints. Posterior instrumented correction of scoliosis was associated with a high-risk of infection requiring reoperation for debridement and removal of posterior instrumentation. Growth disturbance leading to leg-length discrepancies were managed with shoe raises and corrective osteotomies. Aspiration and cultures may be used to differentiate between acute fracture and infection. CONCLUSIONS: Preventative treatment strategies with appropriately padded shoe-wear, gait and posture modification, parental education regarding environmental thermoregulation, and behavioural support are essential for improving prognosis and reducing long-term complications.

Do Growing Rods for Idiopathic Early Onset Scoliosis Improve Activity and Participation for Children?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether growing rod surgery for children with progressive idiopathic early onset scoliosis (EOS) effects activity and participation, and investigate factors that may affect this. STUDY DESIGN: Multicenter retrospective cohort study using prospectively collected data on 60 children with idiopathic EOS and significant scoliosis (defined as a Cobb angle >40°). Thirty underwent brace treatment, and 30, growth rod surgery. Questionnaire and radiographic data were recorded at 1 year. The validated Activities Scale for Kids performance version (ASKp) questionnaire was used to measure activity and participation. RESULTS: In the brace group, Cobb angle increased from 60° to 68°. There was no change in ASKp score. In the operative group, Cobb angle decreased from 67° to 45°. ASKp decreased from 91 to 88 (P < .01). Presence of spinal pain correlated with greater reduction in activity and participation scores in both groups, as did occurrence of complications in the operative group (P < .05). Both treatments permitted growth of the immature spine. CONCLUSIONS: In children with significant idiopathic EOS (Cobb angle>40°), growth rod surgery was associated with a reduction in activity and participation and Cobb angle, whereas brace treatment was associated with an increase in Cobb angle and no change in activity and participation. Pain was the most important factor affecting activity and participation in both groups.

Computerized tomography based 3D modeling of the clavicle.

UNLABELLED: Previous studies have suggested clavicular morphology is highly variable, particularly in the lateral retrocurved section. Current clavicle fracture plating systems require three dimensional intra-operative contouring to achieve adequate fit and necessitate variable soft tissue dissection placing fracture perfusion and muscular attachments at risk. The aim of this study was to search for a surgically relevant superficial shape pattern. This is a retrospective CT-based analysis of 174 non-pathological clavicles in 95 adults (45 females, 50 males). Using the principle of cylindrical parameterisation generated 3-D computer models, we identified an implant preferred pathway (IPP), defined as a continuous linear region where the least possible soft tissue disruption would be necessary for plate fixation. The IPP mean form was within 3.04 mm (SD ± 1.34) on all clavicles. Clavicle length, and not shape, was found to be the biggest variable (correlation between size and form co-ordinates r = 0.99, p < 0.05), accounting for 79% of overall variability. This length variation was mainly located in the medial antecurved section. Superior convexity and recurvatum were the main shape variables, however they only contributed 8% and 5% to the overall variation, respectively. Three IPP lengths were shown to match all clavicles when aligned at the acromial end first. In contrast to previous studies, we have shown that the IPP is fairly consistent with respect to the general shape with the exception of length variation which mainly affected the medial antecurved section. © 2015 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 34:1216-1223, 2016. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Future pre-contoured fracture fixation systems should provide variable length plates with a constant lateral section retrocurve and a variable medial antecurve.

A retrospective review to assess whether spinal fusion and scoliosis correction improved activity and participation for children with Angelman syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigates outcome of scoliosis treatment for 11 children with Angelman syndrome (AS), with particular focus on activity, participation and the musculoskeletal factors that may affect these outcomes. METHODS: Retrospective review of medical records, radiographs and questionnaires administered to caregivers of 11 children (8M:3F) with AS and scoliosis. Six underwent observational treatment during childhood and five underwent spinal fusion. The Activities Scale for Kids (ASKp) questionnaire was used to measure activity and participation. Questionnaire and radiographic data were recorded over a 2 year period. RESULTS: In the observational group, scoliosis increased from 31° to 46°. Mean ASKp decreased from 13.8 to 11.9 (p = 0.06). In the operative group, scoliosis decreased from 68° to 29°. Mean ASKp increased from 11.4 to 15.9 (p < 0.01). There was also a reduction in spinal-related pain and mean number of hospital admissions for chest infection. However, there was a 60% major complication rate. There was no difference in mobility, GMFCS level, feeding or communication in either group before or after treatment. CONCLUSION: In children with significant scoliosis and AS, spinal fusion was associated with a small improvement in activity and participation, reduction in pain and a decrease in frequency of severe chest infections. Non-operative treatment resulted in progression of scoliosis during childhood and decrease in activity.

Does Spinal Fusion and Scoliosis Correction Improve Activity and Participation for Children With GMFCS level 4 and 5 Cerebral Palsy?

Spinal fusion is used to treat scoliosis in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Following intervention, the WHO considers activity and participation should be assessed to guide intervention and assess the effects. This study assesses whether spinal fusion for scoliosis improves activity and participation for children with severe CP.Retrospective cohort study of 70 children (39M:31F) with GMFCS level 4/5 CP and significant scoliosis. Thirty-six underwent observational and/or brace treatment as the sole treatment for their scoliosis, and 34 underwent surgery. Children in the operative group were older and had worse scoliosis than those in the observational group. Questionnaire and radiographic data were recorded over a 2-year period. The ASKp was used to measure activity and participation.In the observational group, Cobb angle and pelvic obliquity increased from 51 (40-90) and 10 (0-30) to 70 (43-111) and 14 (0-37). Mean ASKp decreased from 16.3 (1-38) to 14.2 (1-36). In the operative group, Cobb angle and pelvic obliquity decreased from 81 (50-131) and 14 (1-35) to 38 (10-76) and 9 (0-24). Mean ASKp increased from 10.5 (0-29) to 15.9 (3-38). Spinal-related pain correlated most with change in activity and participation in both groups. There was no difference in mobility, GMFCS level, feeding or communication in either group before and after treatment.In children with significant scoliosis and CP classified within GMFCS levels 4 and 5, spinal fusion was associated with an improvement in activity and participation, whereas nonoperative treatment was associated with a small reduction. Pain should be carefully assessed to guide intervention.

Systematic Review of En Bloc Resection in the Management of Ewing's Sarcoma of the Mobile Spine with Respect to Local Control and Disease-Free Survival.

There is no consensus on the optimal method of local control in Ewing's sarcoma (ES) of the mobile spine. Recent reports have suggested that en bloc resection may improve local control and survival. The authors therefore performed a systematic review to answer the following questions: (1) What is the outcome of en bloc resection for ES of the mobile spine with respect to local control and disease-free survival (DFS)? (2) How should residual ES of the mobile spine be treated?Inclusion criteria were articles published between the years 1960 and 2014 in English that contained more than five patients. This yielded 204 articles, from which 4 were selected for detailed analysis. The literature was graded for quality, summarized, and presented to a group of spinal oncology experts with consensus recommendations made.All 4 studies were retrospective case series graded as very low quality evidence. Local control strategies included radiotherapy (RT) alone, surgery and RT, or surgery alone. There was no standardized outcome reported across studies with respect to the type of surgical procedure, margins, and outcomes of interest such as local recurrence (LR) and DFS. When the en bloc procedures were pooled together, 2 of the 21 patients with available LR data developed LR (9.5%), and 5 of the 7 patients with available DFS data were disease free at a mean of 76 months. The remaining 2 died at 10 and 29 months, respectively. No studies were identified detailing the treatment of residual ES of the mobile spine.There is no consensus on the optimal method of local control for spinal ES or the treatment of residual disease. A weak recommendation supports that when the en bloc resection is technically possible, in combination with RT, this appears to provide superior local control than RT alone, or incomplete excision and RT. The effect on survival is indeterminate.

Prognostic Factors in the Operative Management of Sacral Chordomas.

OBJECTIVE: Surgical resection of sacral chordomas offers the best long-term prognosis but has high rates of local recurrence, metastases, and mortality. Most prognostic studies are limited by low patient numbers, variation in treatment, follow-up, and prognostic variables studied. The objective of this study was to identify factors associated with recurrence, metastasis, and survival. METHODS: Retrospective review of 58 patients undergoing sacrectomy for chordoma with a mean age of 63 years (range: 41-80 years) and a mean follow-up of 45.3 months (range: 2-144 months). Data on prognostic variables and outcomes were collected. Forty-two patients underwent a combined anterior and posterior approach and 16 underwent a posterior-only approach. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients (44.8%) died during follow-up. Kaplan-Meier estimates for 5- and 10-year survival were 62% and 26%, respectively. Local recurrence occurred in 32 patients (51.7%) and metastases in 19 (32.7%). Adequacy of resection margins was the most important predictor of disease recurrence, metastases, and survival. Tumors >8 cm were associated with significantly increased risk of metastases and reduced survival (P < 0.05). Dedifferentiated disease and infiltration of the sacroiliac joints and/or adjacent musculature were also associated with reduced survival. Median survival was 23 months for patients with gluteus maximus invasion, 66 months for gluteus maximus and piriformis invasion, 67 months for piriformis invasion, and 90 months for patients with no muscle invasion. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with inadequate resection margins, tumors >8 cm, sacroiliac joint and/or musculature infiltration, and dedifferentiated disease have significantly worse oncologic outcomes. Involvement of gluteus maximus alone confers a higher risk of metastases and local recurrence than involvement of piriformis and gluteus maximus, or piriformis alone.

Shoulder linked arthroplasty in patients with obstetric brachial plexus palsy can improve quality of life and function at short-term follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Patients with obstetric brachial plexus palsy (OBPP) are prone to develop degenerative shoulder disease at a younger age than the general population. To date, no reports have been published on the complexities or outcome of shoulder arthroplasty (SA) in this unique patient group. METHODS: We reviewed of 9 SAs in 9 patients (3 men and 6 women) with OBPP with mean follow-up 5.1 years (range, 2.6-7.6 years). Patients were a mean age of 29 years (range, 16-56 years). Patients had undergone a mean of 3 previous operations (range, 2-6). All patients underwent linked constrained SA. RESULTS: The mean Oxford Shoulder Score increased from 8 (range, 3-10) preoperatively to 21 (range, 12-32) at the final follow-up (P < .001) predominantly due to pain relief. Mean range of active forward elevation and abduction improved from 35° and 39° to 46° and 45°, respectively. Patients improved significantly in 2 of 8 Short-Form 36-Item health-related quality of life domains, bodily pain (P = .013) and mental health (P = .035), and the overall physical component summary score (P = .006). Range of motion had mild improvements. Three required reoperation (33%), comprising 1 excision of heterotopic ossification, 1 trimming of a prominent screw, and 1 deltoid rupture repair. CONCLUSIONS: SA is effective at relieving pain and health-related quality of life for young patients with OBPP; however, compared with the general population, the complication rate is high and functional gains are small.

Genetic skeletal dysplasias: a guide to diagnosis and management.

The skeletal dysplasias are a large, heterogeneous group of genetic disorders characterised by abnormal growth, development and remodelling of the bones and cartilage that comprise the human skeleton. They typically present with disproportionate short stature in childhood, or premature osteoarthritis in adulthood. The latest classification lists 456 disorders under 40 group headings differentiated by specific clinical, radiographic and molecular criteria. Establishing an accurate diagnosis is important to predict final height, expected complications and treatment, and for specific genetic and psychological counselling. In addition to the skeletal disorder, individuals frequently demonstrate abnormalities of hearing, vision, neurological, pulmonary, renal or cardiac function that require multidisciplinary assessment. This review provides a guide to diagnosis and discusses management principles for the common limb and spinal abnormalities that affect quality of life for the majority.

Joint preserving surgery for rheumatoid forefoot deformities improves pain and corrects deformity at midterm follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disorder that commonly affects the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints. Conventional surgical treatment involves joint-sacrificing surgery to relieve pain and correct deformity. OBJECTIVES: We retrospectively reviewed 49 patients with rheumatoid forefoot deformities who underwent 66 joint preserving procedures with Scarf osteotomy of the first metatarsal and Weil's shortening osteotomy of the lesser metatarsals. METHOD: There were 5 males and 44 females with mean age 56.1 years and mean follow-up 51 months. All patients were evaluated clinically and radiologically with hallux valgus angle (HVA) and inter-metatarsal angle (IMA). RESULTS: Mean AOFAS score improved from 39.8 preoperatively to 88.7 at final follow-up. Subjectively patients reported their outcome as excellent in 49 feet (74%), good in 9 feet, fair in 7 feet and poor in 1 foot. Five feet had residual stiffness and 11 residual pain. Mean HVA and IMA decreased from 32° to 14° and from 15° to 11° respectively. CONCLUSION: In intermediate to severe stages of the disease, joint preserving surgery by Scarf osteotomy of the first MTP joint and Weil osteotomy of the lesser metatarsals may be performed as an alternative to joint-sacrificing procedures and should be considered as a complement to the various surgical treatments of the rheumatoid forefoot.