Robot-assisted pedicle screw insertion versus navigation-based and freehand techniques for posterior spinal fusion in scoliosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: The role of robotics in spine surgery remains controversial, especially for scoliosis correction surgery. This study aims to assess the safety and efficacy of robotic-assisted (RA) surgery specifically for scoliosis surgery by comparing RA to both navigation systems (NS) and conventional freehand techniques (CF). METHODS: As per the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted via an electronic search of the following databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL). All papers comparing RA to either NS or CF for posterior spinal fusion in scoliosis were included. Fixed and random effects models of analysis were utilised based on analysis heterogeneity. RESULTS: 10 observational studies were included in total. RA had significantly greater odds of accurate pedicle screw placement relative to both NS (OR = 2.02, CI = 1.52-2.67, p < 0.00001) and CF (OR = 3.06, CI = 1.79-5.23, p < 0.00001). The downside of RA was the significantly greater operation duration relative to NS (MD = 10.74, CI = 3.52-17.97, p = 0.004) and CF (MD = 40.27, CI = 20.90, p < 0.0001). Perioperative outcomes including estimated blood loss, radiation exposure, length of hospital stay, cobb angle correction rate, postoperative SRS score, VAS pain score, JOA score, as well as rates of neurological injury and revision surgery, were comparable between the groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: RA offers significantly greater pedicle screw placement accuracy relative to NS and CF, however, surgery can take longer. In terms of perioperative outcomes, all three techniques are comparable.

Does Spinal Cord Type Predict Intraoperative Neuro-Monitoring Alerts in Scoliosis Correction Surgery? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Operative and Radiologic Predictors.

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic literature review and meta-analysis. OBJECTIVES: Predicting patient risk of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) alerts preoperatively can aid patient counselling and surgical planning. Sielatycki et al established an axial-MRI-based spinal cord classification system to predict risk of IONM alerts in scoliosis correction surgery. We aim to systematically review the literature on operative and radiologic factors associated with IONM alerts, including a novel spinal cord classification. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed as per the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) Guidelines. A literature search identifying all observational studies comparing patients with and without IONM alerts was conducted. Suitable studies were included. Patient demographics, radiological measures and operative factors were collected. RESULTS: 11 studies were included including 3040 patients. Relative to type 3 cords, type 1 (OR = .03, CI = .01-.08, P < .00001), type 2 (OR = .08, CI = .03, P <.00001) and all non-type 3 cords (OR = .05, CI = .02-.16, P < .00001) were associated with significantly lower odds of IONM alerts. Significant radiographic measures for IONM alerts included coronal Cobb angle (MD = 10.66, CI = 5.77-15.56, P < .00001), sagittal Cobb angle (MD = 9.27, CI = 3.28-14.73, P = .0009), sagittal deformity angle ratio (SDAR) (MD = 2.76, CI = 1.57-3.96, P < .00001) and total deformity angle ratio (TDAR) (MD = 3.44, CI = 2.27-4.462, P < .00001). Clinically, estimated blood loss (MD = 274.13, CI = -240.03-788.28, P = .30), operation duration (MD = 50.79, CI = 20.58-81.00, P = .0010), number of levels fused (MD = .92, CI = .43-1.41, P = .0002) and number of vertebral levels resected (MD = .43, CI = .01-.84, P = .05) were significantly greater in IONM alert patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the relationship of operative and radiologic factors with IONM alerts.

When spinal instrumentation revision is not an option: Salvage vertebral augmentation with polymethylmethacrylate for mechanical complications: A systematic review.

Intoduction: Mechanical complications from spinal fusion including implant loosening or junctional failure result in poor outcomes, particularly in osteoporotic patients. While the use of percutaneous vertebral augmentation with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) has been studied for augmentation of junctional levels to offset against kyphosis and failure, its deployment around existing loose screws or in failing surrounding bone as a salvage percutaneous procedure has been described in small case series and merits review. Research Question: How effective and safe is the use of PMMA as a salvage procedure for mechanical complications in failed spinal fusion?. Materials and Methods: Systematic search of online databases for clinical studies using this technique. Results: 11 studies were identified, only consisting of two case reports and nine case series. Consistent improvements were observed in pre- to post-operative VAS and with sustained improvements at final follow-up. The extra- or para-pedicular approach was the most frequent access trajectory. Most studies cited difficulties with visibility on fluoroscopy, using navigation or oblique views as a solution for this. Discussion and Conclusions: Percutaneous cementation at a failing screw-bone interface stabilises further micromotion with reductions in back pain. This rarely used technique is manifested by a low but increasing number of reported cases. The technique warrants further evaluation and is best performed within a multidisciplinary setting at a specialist centre. Notwithstanding that underlying pathology may not be addressed, awareness of this technique may allow an effective and safe salvage solution with minimal morbidity for older sicker patients.

Complications associated with lumbar discectomy surgical techniques: a systematic review.

Background: Open discectomy (OD) and microdiscectomy (MD) are routine procedures for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation. Minimally invasive surgery (MIS), such as micro-endoscopic discectomy (MED) and full endoscopic discectomy (FED), offers potential advantages (less pain, less bleeding, shorter hospitalisation and earlier return to work), but their complications have not yet been fully evaluated. The aim of this paper was to identify the frequency of these complications with a focus on MIS in comparison to OD/MD. Methods: The authors conducted a Medline database search for randomised controlled and prospective cohort studies reporting complications associated with MIS and MD/OD from 1997 to February 2020. Included studies were assessed for bias using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality assessment form. Mean complication rates for each technique were calculated by dividing the total number of each complication by the total number of patients included in the studies which reported that specific complication. Results: Of the 1,095 articles retrieved from Medline, 35 met the inclusion criteria. OD, MD, MED and FED were associated with: recurrent lumbar disc hernias in 4.1%, 5.1%, 3.9% and 3.5% respectively; re-operations in 5.2%, 7.5%, 4.9% and 4% respectively; wound complications in 3.5%, 3.5%, 1.2% and 2% respectively; durotomy in 6.6%, 2.3%, 4.4% and 1.1% respectively; neurological complications in 1.8%, 2.8%, 4.5% and 4.9% respectively. Nerve root injury was reported in 0.3% for MD, 0.8% for MED and 1.2% for FED. Discussion: This up-to-date systematic review of complications after various techniques of lumbar discectomy (including a large pool of patients who had MIS) confirms previous findings of low and comparable rates. However variable levels of bias were reported amongst included studies, which reported complications with varying levels of clinical detail.

Perioperative Optimization of Patients With Neuromuscular Disorders Undergoing Scoliosis Corrective Surgery: A Multidisciplinary Team Approach.

STUDY DESIGN: Narrative review. OBJECTIVE: The high rate of complications associated with the surgical management of neuromuscular spinal deformities is well documented in the literature. This is attributed to attenuated protective physiological responses in multiple organ systems. METHODS: Review and synthesis of the literature pertaining to optimization of patients with neuromuscular scoliosis undergoing surgery. Our institutional practice in the perioperative assessment and management of neuromuscular scoliosis is also described along with a clinical vignette. RESULTS: Respiratory complications are the most common to occur following surgery for neuromuscular disorders. Other categories include gastrointestinal, cardiac, genitourinary, blood loss, and wound complications. A multidisciplinary approach is required for perioperative optimization of these patients and numerous strategies are described, including respiratory management. CONCLUSION: Perioperative optimization for patients with neuromuscular disorders undergoing corrective surgery for spinal deformity is multifaceted and complex. It requires a multidisciplinary evidence-based approach. Preadmission of patients in advance of surgery for assessment and optimization may be required in certain instances to identify key concerns and formulate a tailored treatment plan.

The Management of Symptomatic Lumbar Disc Herniation in Pregnancy: A Systematic Review.

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review. OBJECTIVES: Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) has been reported to affect 1 in 10 000 pregnant women. There is limited evidence available regarding the optimal management of LDH in pregnant patients. We aimed to review the current evidence for the management of symptomatic LDH in pregnancy through critical appraisal and analysis of the available literature. METHODS: Searches were conducted in Medline, Embase, PubMed, Science Direct, and The Cochrane Library from inception using predetermined search terms. All peer-reviewed studies of pregnant women with symptomatic LDH were included. The quality of eligible articles was assessed and extracted data and characteristics were pooled for analysis. References cited by studies were screened to identify other relevant publications. RESULTS: Thirty studies involving 52 patients were identified. Compared to surgically managed patients, conservatively managed patients had a higher full recovery rate (61.54% vs 56.41%) and reported a lower rate of persistent symptoms (30.77% vs 38.54%). Compared to patients who were treated surgically for cauda equina syndrome, patients treated surgically for sciatica had a higher full recovery rate (80.95% vs 27.78%) and reported a lower rate of persistent symptoms (14.29% vs 66.67%). CONCLUSION: There is limited evidence to guide the management of pregnant patients with LDH. Despite a suggestion toward improved outcomes with conservative management, the presence of selection bias and the overall poor quality of current research precludes reliable conclusions from being drawn. Decision making for this patient group should be undertaken within a multidisciplinary setting.

Trampoline Park Injuries and Their Burden on Local Orthopaedic and Emergency Services.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence of trampoline park injuries (TPIs) at a local recreational facility and to quantify the burden on emergency and orthopaedic services at our institute. METHODS: All patients that presented to the Emergency Department (ED) from the trampoline park via ambulance from July 2014 to November 2015 were included in the study. Patients' medical records were reviewed for clinical details including date, location and type of injury, treatment received, length of stay and outpatient follow-up. A cost analysis was performed to estimate the financial impact of each injury. RESULTS: A total of 71 patients were included in the study, with a mean age of 20 (7-48). Soft tissue sprains (n=29, 41%) and fractures (n=25, 35%) were the most common injuries, with the majority occurring in the lower limb. Two patients sustained open tibial fractures necessitating transfer to level 1 trauma centres. Fourteen patients (20%) underwent surgery, predominantly requiring open reduction and internal fixation. Overall, 18 patients (25%) required admission to hospital with mean length of stay of 2 days. The cost for pre-hospital, emergency and in-patient care amounted to over £80,000. CONCLUSION: TPIs pose a significant financial cost for local orthopaedic and emergency services. Contrary to studies evaluating home trampoline injuries, the majority of fractures at trampoline parks occurred in the lower limbs. Improved injury prevention strategies are required to help reduce morbidity and lower the financial implications for local NHS trusts.

Predicting the need for surgical intervention in patients with spondylodiscitis: the Brighton Spondylodiscitis Score (BSDS).

PURPOSE: Spondylodiscitis represents a condition with significant heterogeneity. A significant proportion of patients are managed without surgical intervention, but there remains a group where surgery is mandated. The aim of our study was to create a scoring system to guide clinicians as to which patients with spondylodiscitis may require surgery. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients presenting to our institution with a diagnosis of spondylodiscitis between 2005 and 2014 was performed. Data for 35 variables, characterised as potential risk factors for requiring surgical treatment of spondylodiscitis, were collected. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the predictability of each. A prediction model was constructed, and the model was externally validated using a second series of patients from 2014 to 2015 meeting the same standards as the first population. The predicted odds were calculated for every patient in the data set. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were created, and the area under curve (AUC) was determined. RESULTS: Sixty-five patients were identified. Surgery was deemed necessary in 21 patients. Six predictors: distant site infection, medical comorbidities, the immunocompromised patient, MRI findings, anatomical location and neurology, were found to be the most consistent risk factors for surgical intervention. An internally validated scoring system with an AUC of 0.83 and an Akaike information criterion (AIC) of 115.2 was developed. External validation using a further 20 patients showed an AUC of 0.71 at 95% confidence interval of 0.50-0.88. CONCLUSIONS: A new scoring system has been developed which can help guide clinicians as to when surgical intervention may be required. Further prospective analyses are required to validate this proposed scoring system. These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.

Assessment and management of adult spinal deformities.

Adult spinal deformity is a complex condition, increasing in prevalence, and occurring in a patient population in which it poses unique challenges. This review provides an overview of adult spinal deformity with a particular focus on its clinical evaluation, radiological assessment and classification, reviewing the current literature and amalgamating this with the authors' clinical experience.

Arthroscopic versus open ankle arthrodesis.

BACKGROUND: It is thought that arthroscopic ankle fusion offers improved outcomes over open fusion in terms of functional outcomes, time to fusion, length of stay and fewer complications. However, there are doubts about whether correction of established severe deformity can be achieved using the arthroscopic approach. METHODS: A retrospective review of medical records and radiographs at our hospital identified consecutive tibio-talar ankle fusions between April 2009 and March 2014 with minimum 1 year follow up. Records were scrutinised for type of arthrodesis, demographics, length of stay (LOS), time to fusion (TTF), pre- and postoperative deformity, complications and unplanned procedures. Significant factors in the complication group were then compared, using multivariate binary logistic backward stepwise regression to see if any factors were predictive. RESULTS: There were 29 open and 50 arthroscopic ankle fusions (2 converted to open). Mean LOS was 1.93 versus 2.52 days (p=0.590). TTF was shorter after arthroscopic fusion 196d versus 146d (p=0.083). Severe deformity (>10°) was correctable to within 5° of neutral in the majority of cases (97% versus 96%, p=0.903). Union occurred in 83% versus 98% (p=0.0134). The open arthrodesis group had 9 (31%) complications (1 death-PE, 1 SPN injury, 5 non-unions, 1 delayed union and 1 wound infection) and 6 (25%) screw removals. The arthroscopic arthrodesis group had 4 (8%) complications (1 non-union, 1 reactivation of osteomyelitis and subsequent BKA, 1 wound infection, 1 delayed union) with 11 (24%) screw removals. After multi-variant regression analysis of all ankle fusions, low BMI was shown to be associated with complications (p=0.064). CONCLUSIONS: Open arthrodesis was associated with a higher rate of complications and a lower rate of fusion. However, there was no significant difference in terms of LOS and ability to correct deformity compared to arthroscopic arthrodesis. Overall, low BMI was also associated with more complications.

Blunt vertebral vascular injury in trauma patients: ATLS® recommendations and review of current evidence.

Blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI) encompasses two distinct clinical entities: traumatic carotid artery injury (TCAI) and traumatic vertebral artery injury (TVAI). The latter is the focus of our review. These are potentially devastating injuries which pose a diagnostic challenge in the acute trauma setting. There is still debate regarding the optimal screening criteria, diagnostic imaging modality and treatment methods. In 2012 the American College of Surgeons proposed criteria for investigating patients with suspected TVAI and subsequent treatment methods, caveated with the statement that evidence is limited and still evolving. Here we review the historical evidence and recent literature relating to these recommendations.

The effect of different methods of stability assessment on fixation rate and complications in supination external rotation (SER) 2/4 ankle fractures.

BACKGROUND: Distinguishing stable supination-external rotation (SER) 2 from unstable SER 4 ankle fractures, using standard radiographs, is controversial. Examination under anaesthesia (EUA), gravity-stress (GS) and weight-bearing (WB) radiographs can aid surgical decision-making. We evaluated the effect of three methods of fracture stability assessment. METHODS: Radiographs and case-notes of 312 consecutive patients with SER 2/4 fractures were reviewed. We recorded ankle stability assessment (plain film (PF) and EUA vs. GS vs. WB radiographs), management (conservative vs. operative), unplanned surgery and complications. RESULTS: Forty five percent assessed with GS underwent surgery (6% for PF/EUA, 4% for WB; P=0.0001). Amongst GS patients, 11% underwent additional surgery (0.1% PF/EUA, 0% WB; P=0.0001). Complications occurred in 2% of the WB group (8% for PF/EUA, 22% for GS; P=0.007). CONCLUSION: This study associates GS assessment with higher rates of surgery and complications. Subsequent studies may determine the longer term effect stability assessments have on post-traumatic arthritis.

A novel technique for identification of fractured ceramic acetabular liner in total hip arthroplasty: a case report.

In total hip arthroplasty ceramic bearings are liable to fracture. We present the case of an 82-year-old male with groin pain and an audible squeak 6 months post ceramic on ceramic hip arthroplasty. Initial plain radiography and examination under anaesthetic (EUA) were normal. Fluoroscopy with normal image exposure was also unremarkable. Over penetration of the image intensifier film demonstrated a fracture of the ceramic acetabular liner. The patient subsequently underwent a revision of both acetabular and femoral bearing surfaces.Displaced ceramic liner fractures are easy to identify with plain radiographs. We recommend the use of over penetration using image intensification as a technique to help identify subtle ceramic liner fractures. To our knowledge this has not been previously reported in the literature.