Definition, Frequency and Risk Factors for Intra-Operative Spinal Cord Injury: A Knowledge Synthesis.

STUDY DESIGN: Mixed-methods approach. OBJECTIVES: Intra-operative spinal cord injury (ISCI) is a devastating complication of spinal surgery. Presently, a uniform definition for ISCI does not exist. Consequently, the reported frequency of ISCI and important risk factors vary in the existing literature. To address these gaps in knowledge, a mixed-methods knowledge synthesis was undertaken. METHODS: A scoping review was conducted to review the definitions used for ISCI and to ascertain the frequency of ISCI. The definition of ISCI underwent formal review, revision and voting by the Guidelines Development Group (GDG). A systematic review of the literature was conducted to determine the risk factors for ISCI. Based on this systematic review and GDG input, a table was created to summarize the factors deemed to increase the risk for ISCI. All reviews were done according to PRISMA standards and were registered on PROSPERO. RESULTS: The frequency of ISCI ranged from 0 to 61%. Older age, male sex, cardiovascular disease including hypertension, severe myelopathy, blood loss, requirement for osteotomy, coronal deformity angular ratio, and curve magnitude were associated with an increased risk of ISCI. Better pre-operative neurological status and use of intra-operative neuromonitoring (IONM) were associated with a decreased risk of ISCI. The risk factors for ISCI included a rigid thoracic curve with high deformity angular ratio, revision congenital deformity with significant cord compression and myelopathy, extrinsic intradural or extradural lesions with cord compression and myelopathy, intramedullary spinal cord tumor, unstable spine fractures (bilateral facet dislocation and disc herniation), extension distraction injury with ankylosing spondylitis, ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) with severe cord compression, and moderate to severe myelopathy. CONCLUSIONS: ISCI has been defined as "a new or worsening neurological deficit attributable to spinal cord dysfunction during spine surgery that is diagnosed intra-operatively via neurophysiologic monitoring or by an intraoperative wake-up test, or immediately post-operatively based on clinical assessment". This paper defines clinical and imaging factors which increase the risk for ISCI and that could assist clinicians in decision making.

Timing of Decompressive Surgery in Patients With Acute Spinal Cord Injury: Systematic Review Update.

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. OBJECTIVE: Surgical decompression is a cornerstone in the management of patients with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI); however, the influence of the timing of surgery on neurological recovery after acute SCI remains controversial. This systematic review aims to summarize current evidence on the effectiveness, safety, and cost-effectiveness of early (≤24 hours) or late (>24 hours) surgery in patients with acute traumatic SCI for all levels of the spine. Furthermore, this systematic review aims to evaluate the evidence with respect to the impact of ultra-early surgery (earlier than 24 hours from injury) on these outcomes. METHODS: A systematic search of the literature was performed using the MEDLINE database (PubMed), Cochrane database, and EMBASE. Two reviewers independently screened the citations from the search to determine whether an article satisfied predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. For all key questions, we focused on primary studies with the least potential for bias and those that controlled for baseline neurological status and specified time from injury to surgery. Risk of bias of each article was assessed using standardized tools based on study design. Finally, the overall strength of evidence for the primary outcomes was assessed using the GRADE approach. Data were synthesized both qualitatively and quantitively using meta-analyses. RESULTS: Twenty-one studies met inclusion and exclusion criteria and formed the evidence base for this review update. Seventeen studies compared outcomes between patients treated with early (≤24 hours from injury) compared to late (>24 hours) surgical decompression. An additional 4 studies evaluated even earlier time frames: <4, <5, <8 or <12 hours. Based on moderate evidence, patients were 2 times more likely to recover by ≥ 2 grades on the ASIA Impairment Score (AIS) at 6 months (RR: 2.76, 95% CI 1.60 to 4.98) and 12 months (RR: 1.95, 95% CI 1.26 to 3.18) if they were decompressed within 24 hours compared to after 24 hours. Furthermore, moderate evidence suggested that patients receiving early decompression had an additional 4.50 (95% CI 1.70 to 7.29) point improvement on the ASIA motor score. With respect to administrative outcomes, there was low evidence that early decompression may decrease acute hospital length of stay. In terms of safety, there was moderate evidence that suggested the rate of major complications does not differ between patients undergoing early compared to late surgery. Furthermore, there was no difference in rates of mortality, surgical device-related complications, sepsis/systemic infection or neurological deterioration based on timing of surgery. Firm conclusions were not possible with respect to the impact of ultra-early surgery on neurological, functional or safety outcomes given the poor-quality studies, imprecision and the overlap in the time frames examined. CONCLUSIONS: This review provides an evidence base to support the update on clinical practice guidelines related to the timing of surgical decompression in acute SCI. Overall, the strength of evidence was moderate that early surgery (≤24 hours from injury) compared to late (>24 hours) results in clinically meaningful improvements in neurological recovery. Further studies are required to delineate the role of ultra-early surgery in patients with acute SCI.

Risk factors for C5 palsy: a systematic review and multivariate analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Postoperative C5 palsy (C5P) is a known complication in cervical spine surgery. However, its exact pathophysiology is unclear. The authors aimed to provide a review of the current understanding of C5P by performing a comprehensive, systematic review of the existing literature and conducting a critical appraisal of existing evidence to determine the risk factors of C5P. METHODS: A systematic search of PubMed/MEDLINE (January 1, 2019, to July 2, 2021), EMBASE (inception to July 2, 2021), and Cochrane (inception to July 2, 2021) databases was conducted. Preestablished criteria were used to evaluate studies for inclusion. Studies that adjusted for one or more of the following factors were considered: preoperative foraminal diameter (FD) at C4/5, posterior spinal cord shift at C4/5, preoperative anterior-posterior diameter (APD) at C4/5, preoperative spinal cord rotation, and change in C2-7 Cobb angle. Studies were rated as good, fair, or poor based on the Quality in Prognosis Studies (QUIPS) tool. Random effects meta-analyses were done using methods outlined by Cochrane methodologists for pooling of prognostic studies. Overall quality (strength) of evidence was based on Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methods for prognostic studies. The protocol for this review was published on the PROSPERO (CRD264358) website. RESULTS: Of 303 potentially relevant citations of studies, 12 met the inclusion criteria set a priori. These works provide moderate-quality evidence that preoperative FD substantially increases the odds of C5P in patients undergoing posterior cervical surgery. Pooled estimates across 7 studies in which various surgical approaches were used indicate that the odds of C5P approximately triple for each millimeter decrease in preoperative FD (OR 3.05, 95% CI 2.07-4.49). Preoperative APD increases the odds of C5P, but the confidence is low. Across 3 studies, each using different surgical approaches, each millimeter decrease in preoperative APD was associated with a more than 2-fold increased odds of C5P (pooled OR 2.51, 95% CI 1.69-3.73). Confidence that there is an association with postoperative C5P and posterior spinal cord shift, change in sagittal Cobb angle, and preoperative spinal cord rotation is very low. CONCLUSIONS: The exact pathophysiological process resulting in postoperative C5P remains an enigma but there is a clear association with foraminal stenosis, especially when performing posterior procedures. C5P is also related to decreased APD but the association is less clear. The overall quality (strength) of evidence provided by the current literature is low to very low for most factors. Systematic review registration no.: CRD264358 (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/).

The Risk of Adverse Events in Smokers Undergoing Spinal Fusion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. OBJECTIVES: Determine if tobacco use is associated with increased risk of postoperative adverse events within 90 days in patients undergoing spinal fusion surgery. METHODS: Databases were queried to identify cohort studies that directly compared smokers with non-smokers and provided the absolute number of adverse events and the population at risk. Data quality was evaluated using the Quality in Prognosis Studies tool. Risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated and compared between studies. The grading of recommendation, assessment, development and evaluation (GRADE) criteria were used to assess the strength of the evidence. RESULTS: Seventeen studies assessing 37 897 participants met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 10 031 (26.5%) were smokers and 27 866 (73.5%) were nonsmokers. The mean age for the study population was 58 years, and 45% were males. Smoking was not associated with increased risk of one or more major adverse events within 90 days following spine surgery (seven studies, pooled RR 1.13, 95% CI [.75-1.71], I2 = 41%). However, smoking was significantly associated with one or more major adverse events in ≤2 level fusion (three studies, pooled RR 2.46, 95% CI [1.18-5.12], I2 = 0%), but not in fusions of ≥3 levels (four studies, pooled RR .87, 95% CI [.70-1.08], I2 = 0%). Additionally, there was no statistically significant association between smoking and any adverse event, nor increased reoperation risk due to adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: In this meta-analysis, tobacco use was not associated with a statistically significant increased risk of adverse events within 90 days in patients undergoing spinal fusion surgery. Our results are limited by the variable reporting methodology for both complication rates as well as smoking incidence between the included individual studies.

Spine Treatment Appraisal Report (STAR): Decompression in Single-Level Degenerative Lumbar Spondylolisthesis: Do We Need to Fuse?

Austevoll IM, Hermansen E, Fagerland MW, Storheim K, Brox JI, Solberg T, Rekeland F, Franssen E, Weber C, Brisby H, Grundnes O, Algaard KRH, Böker T, Banitalebi H, Indrekvam K, Hellum C; NORDSTEN-DS Investigators. Decompression with or without Fusion in Degenerative Lumbar Spondylolisthesis. N Engl J Med. 2021 Aug 5;385(6):526-538.

The Efficacy of Cannabis in Reducing Back Pain: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: To critically analyze the evidence and efficacy of cannabis to treat surgical and nonsurgical back pain via a Systematic Review. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review to investigate the efficacy of cannabis to treat non-surgical and surgical back pain. A literature search was performed with MEDLINE and Embase databases. Only RCTs and prospective cohort studies with concurrent control were included in this study. Risk of bias and quality grading was assessed for each included study. RESULTS: Database searches returned 1738 non-duplicated results. An initial screening excluded 1716 results. Twenty-two full text articles were assessed for eligibility. Four articles ultimately met pre-determined eligibility and were included in the study. Two studies addressed post-SCI pain while other two studies addressed low back pain. No studies specifically examined the use of cannabis for surgical back pain. The type of cannabis varied between study and included THC, dronabinol, and Nabilone. A total of 110 patients were included in the four studies reviewed. In each study, there was a quantifiable advantage of cannabis therapy for alleviating back pain. There were no serious adverse effects reported. CONCLUSIONS: In all articles, cannabis was shown to be effective to treat back pain with an acceptable side effect profile. However, long-term follow up is lacking. As medicinal cannabis is being used more commonly for analgesic effect and patients are "self-prescribing" cannabis for back pain, additional studies are needed for healthcare providers to confidently recommend cannabis therapy for back pain. STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review.

The Risk of Nonunion in Smokers Revisited: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

STUDY DESIGN: Systemic review and meta-analysis. OBJECTIVE: To review and establish the effect of tobacco smoking on risk of nonunion following spinal fusion. METHODS: A systematic search of Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews from inception to December 31, 2020, was conducted. Cohort studies directly comparing smokers with nonsmokers that provided the number of nonunions and fused segments were included. Following data extraction, the risk of bias was assessed using the Quality in Prognosis Studies Tool, and the strength of evidence for nonunion was evaluated using the GRADE working group criteria. All data analysis was performed in Review Manager 5, and a random effects model was used. RESULTS: Twenty studies assessing 3009 participants, which included 1117 (37%) smokers, met inclusion criteria. Pooled analysis found that smoking was associated with increased risk of nonunion compared to not smoking ≥1 year following spine surgery (RR 1.91, 95% CI 1.56 to 2.35). Smoking was significantly associated with increased nonunion in those receiving either allograft (RR 1.39, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.73) or autograft (RR 2.04, 95% CI 1.54 to 2.72). Both multilevel and single level fusions carried increased risk of nonunion in smokers (RR 2.30, 95% CI 1.64 to 3.23; RR 1.79, 95% CI 1.12 to 2.86, respectively). CONCLUSION: Smoking status carried a global risk of nonunion for spinal fusion procedures regardless of follow-up time, location, number of segments fused, or grafting material. Further comparative studies with robust methodology are necessary to establish treatment guidelines tailored to smokers.

Iliac Screw Fixation Revisited: Improved Clinical and Radiologic Outcomes Using a Modified Iliac Screw Fixation Technique.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study. OBJECTIVE: To describe the modified iliac screw (mILS) technique and compare it to other spinopelvic fixation techniques in terms of wound healing complications, hardware prominence, and failure. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The traditional entry point of an iliac screw often causes postoperative gluteal pain from the prominent screw head. The use of an offset connector also adds a point of weakness to the construct. By choosing a different screw entry point offset connectors can be avoided, and the screw head itself is less prominent, thereby reducing postoperative discomfort. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed of adult patients undergoing lumbopelvic fixation (LPF) between January 2014 and June 2019. Patients were grouped into 1 of 3 groups based on the technique of pelvic fixation: S2 alar-iliac (S2AI) screw, traditional iliac screw (tILS), and mILS. The primary outcome parameter was the minimal distance from screw head to skin. Secondary outcome parameters were instrumentation loosening/failure, adjacent level fractures, pseudoarthrosis, and medial or lateral iliac screw perforation. RESULTS: A total of 190 patients undergoing LPF were included in the following 3 groups: mILS group (n=113), tILS group (n=40), and S2AI group (n=37). The mean minimal distance from screw head to skin in the mILS group was 31.3 mm compared with 23.7 mm in the tILS group (P<0.00199). No statistically significant differences were found when comparing the 3 groups with respect to complications. The mILS group did not show any cases of prominent instrumentation and had the lowest rate of instrumentation failure. CONCLUSIONS: The mILS technique is an acceptable alternative for LPF, offering the benefits of iliac screw fixation while avoiding offset connectors and screw prominence complications associated with tILS. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Physical Activity and the Health of Wheelchair Users: A Systematic Review in Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, and Spinal Cord Injury.

OBJECTIVE: To understand the benefits and harms of physical activity in people who may require a wheelchair with a focus on people with multiple sclerosis (MS), cerebral palsy (CP), and spinal cord injury (SCI). DATA SOURCES: Searches were conducted in MEDLINE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health, PsycINFO, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Embase (January 2008 through November 2020). STUDY SELECTION: Randomized controlled trials, nonrandomized trials, and cohort studies of observed physical activity (at least 10 sessions on 10 days) in participants with MS, CP, and SCI. DATA EXTRACTION: We conducted dual data abstraction, quality assessment, and strength of evidence. Measures of physical functioning are reported individually where sufficient data exist and grouped as "function" where data are scant. DATA SYNTHESIS: No studies provided evidence for prevention of cardiovascular conditions, development of diabetes, or obesity. Among 168 included studies, 44% enrolled participants with MS (38% CP, 18% SCI). Studies in MS found walking ability may be improved with treadmill training and multimodal exercises; function may be improved with treadmill, balance exercises, and motion gaming; balance is likely improved with balance exercises and may be improved with aquatic exercises, robot-assisted gait training (RAGT), motion gaming, and multimodal exercises; activities of daily living (ADL), female sexual function, and spasticity may be improved with aquatic therapy; sleep may be improved with aerobic exercises and aerobic fitness with multimodal exercises. In CP, balance may be improved with hippotherapy and motion gaming; function may be improved with cycling, treadmill, and hippotherapy. In SCI, ADL may be improved with RAGT. CONCLUSIONS: Depending on population and type of exercise, physical activity was associated with improvements in walking, function, balance, depression, sleep, ADL, spasticity, female sexual function, and aerobic capacity. Few harms of physical activity were reported in studies. Future studies are needed to address evidence gaps and to confirm findings.

Spine Treatment Appraisal Report (STAR): Return-to-Play in Elite Athletes After Symptomatic Lumbar Disc Herniation: Surgery or Non-Surgical Treatment?

Citation: Sedrak P, Shahbaz M, Gohal C, Madden K, Aleem I, Khan M. Return to Play After Symptomatic Lumbar Disc Herniation in Elite Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Operative Versus Nonoperative Treatment. Sports Health. Feb 10 2021:1 941 738 121 991 782.

Spine Treatment Appraisal Report (STAR): Patient-Reported Outcomes Following Short-Segment Lumbar Fusion: Does Pelvic Incidence and Lumbar Lordosis (PI-LL) Mismatch Matter?

Divi SN, Kepler CK, Hilibrand AS, et al. Patient Outcomes Following Short-segment Lumbar Fusion Are Not Affected by PI-LL Mismatch. Clin Spine Surg. Mar 1 2021;34(2):73-77.

Spine Treatment Appraisal Report (STAR): Does Riluzole Improve Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Decompression Surgery for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy?

Fehlings MG, Badhiwala JH, Ahn H, et al. Safety and efficacy of riluzole in patients undergoing decompressive surgery for degenerative cervical myelopathy (CSM-Protect): a multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised, phase 3 trial. Lancet Neurol. 2020.