Comparison of perioperative outcomes in obese and non-obese patients subjected to open lumbar spine surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Obesity is a global epidemic affecting developing countries. The relationship between obesity and perioperative outcomes during elective lumbar spine surgery remains controversial, especially in those without morbid disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively revised the medical records of patients with lumbar spine degeneration subjected to elective surgery. The data retrieved included demographic and clinical characteristics, body mass index (BMI), obesity status (BMI ≥ 30), surgical interventions, estimated blood loss (EBL), operative time, length of stay (LOS), and post-operative complications. Perioperative outcomes were compared between Grade I-II obese and non-obese individuals. RESULTS: We enrolled 53 patients, 18 with Grade I-II obesity. Their median age was 51, with no differences in gender, comorbidities, laboratory parameters, and surgical procedures received between groups. No clinically relevant differences were found between grade I-II obese and non-obese participants in EBL (300 mL vs. 250 mL, p = 0.069), operative time (3.2 h vs. 3.0 h, p = 0.037), and LOS (6 days vs. 5 days, p = 0.3). Furthermore, BMI was not associated with the incidence of significant bleeding and long stay but showed a modest correlation with operative time. CONCLUSION: Grade I-II obesity does not increase surgical complexity nor perioperative complications during open lumbar spine surgery.

OBJETIVO: La obesidad es una epidemia mundial que afecta a países subdesarrollados. Su relación con los resultados de la cirugía de columna lumbar electiva sigue siendo controvertida, especialmente en obesos sin enfermedad mórbida. MÉTODOS: Se revisaron los expedientes de pacientes con degeneración de la columna lumbar sometidos a cirugía. Los datos recuperados incluyeron características demográficas y clínicas, índice de masa corporal (IMC), estado de obesidad (IMC > 30), intervenciones quirúrgicas, sangrado estimado, tiempo operatorio, tiempo de estancia y complicaciones. Los resultados se compararon entre individuos obesos grado I-II y controles. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 53 pacientes, 18 con obesidad de grado I-II. La edad media fue de 51 años, sin diferencias en el sexo, las comorbilidades, los parámetros de laboratorio y los procedimientos quirúrgicos recibidos entre grupos. No se encontraron diferencias relevantes entre los participantes obesos y los no obesos en sangrado (300 vs. 250 mL, p = 0.069), tiempo operatorio (3.2 vs. 3.0 horas, p = 0.037) y estancia (6 vs. 5 días, p = 0.3). El IMC no se asoció con hemorragia y larga estancia, pero mostró una correlación modesta con el tiempo operatorio. CONCLUSIONES: La obesidad grado I-II no predispone a complicaciones durante la cirugía de columna lumbar.

Nerve preservation during partial sacrectomy by two-stage anterior and posterior approach: illustrative case.

BACKGROUND: Preserving the neurological function of sacral nerves during total or partial sacrectomy is challenging. OBSERVATIONS: The authors describe a case of an osseous desmoplastic fibroma of the sacrum in a 51-year-old woman. The patient attended the authors' institution with loss of muscle strength and sensitivity impairment in both legs, gait instability, bowel constipation, urinary incontinence, and weight loss. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography/computed tomography showed intrapelvic and posterior extension of the tumor but sparing of S1 and the sacroiliac and lumbosacral joints. After a multidisciplinary discussion of the case, a staged anterior-posterior approach to the sacrum was chosen. The abdominal approach allowed full mobilization of the uterus, ovaries, bladder, and colon and protection of iliac vessels. After tumor resection, a synthetic surgical mesh was placed over the sacrum to minimize soft tissue defects. Then, the posterior stage allowed the authors to perform a bicortical osteotomy, achieving wide tumor excision with minimal nerve root injury. Spinopelvic fixation was not necessary, because both sacroiliac and lumbosacral joints remained intact. A few days after the surgery, the patient restarted ambulation and recovered sphincter control. LESSONS: Multidisciplinary planning and a staged abdominal and posterior approach for partial sacrectomy were fundamental to preserve neurological function in this case.

A case report of an intramedullary cervical teratoma in an adult patient with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy / Teratoma intramedular cervical en un paciente adulto con radiculopatía espondilótica. Reporte de caso

Spinal cord teratomas are rare. There are few reports of teratomas affecting the cervical spine and their association with spondylotic radiculopathy has not been described. A 59-year-old woman with history of fecal incontinence attended with cervical radicular pain radiating to upper limbs. Physical examination showed distal muscle hypotrophy and abolishment of bicipital, tricipital, and brachioradialis reflexes of the right arm, preserving proximal strength. Also, hiporreflexia and loss of proprioception in the right lower limb was observed. Magnetic resonance imaging showed an intramedullary mass at C7-T1, accompanied by intervertebral disk protrusions and dural sac compressions at the same level. One-stage posterior-anterior operative approach for tumor resection, decompression of the radiculopathy and replacement of intervertebral discs was performed. The histopathological diagnosis was for a mature teratoma. We described the first case of an intramedullary cervical teratoma associated with radiculopathy in an adult, providing evidence of rare long-lasting teratomas affecting the cervical spine

Los teratomas medulares son raros. La asociación de teratomas cervicales con radiculopatía espondilótica no ha sido descrita. Una mujer de 59 años con historia de incontinencia fecal acudió con dolor radicular cervical irradiado a miembros superiores. La exploración física reveló hipotrofia distal, arreflexia bicipital, tricipital y braquiorradial del brazo derecho, conservando la fuerza proximal. Se observó hiporreflexia y pérdida de la propiocepción en el miembro inferior derecho. La resonancia magnética reveló una masa intramedular en C7-T1, así como hernias discales y compresión del saco dural en dichos segmentos. Se realizó un doble abordaje posterior-anterior en un solo tiempo para resecar el tumor, descomprimir la radiculopatía y reemplazar los discos afectados. El diagnóstico histopatológico fue de un teratoma maduro. Describimos el primer caso de un teratoma intramedular cervical con radiculopatía espondilótica en un adulto, aportando evidencia sobre los teratomas raros de larga evolución que afectan a la columna cervical

A case report of an intramedullary cervical teratoma in an adult patient with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy.

Spinal cord teratomas are rare. There are few reports of teratomas affecting the cervical spine and their association with spondylotic radiculopathy has not been described. A 59-year-old woman with history of fecal incontinence attended with cervical radicular pain radiating to upper limbs. Physical examination showed distal muscle hypotrophy and abolishment of bicipital, tricipital, and brachioradialis reflexes of the right arm, preserving proximal strength. Also, hiporreflexia and loss of proprioception in the right lower limb was observed. Magnetic resonance imaging showed an intramedullary mass at C7-T1, accompanied by intervertebral disk protrusions and dural sac compressions at the same level. One-stage posterior-anterior operative approach for tumor resection, decompression of the radiculopathy and replacement of intervertebral discs was performed. The histopathological diagnosis was for a mature teratoma. We described the first case of an intramedullary cervical teratoma associated with radiculopathy in an adult, providing evidence of rare long-lasting teratomas affecting the cervical spine.