Retraction Note: Rare causes of scoliosis and spine deformity: experience and particular features.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.1186/1748-7161-2-15.].

Peripheral arterial embolization of cement during revision spine surgery.

Cement embolism of the pulmonary arteries is a well-known complication of percutaneous vertebroplasty as well as orthopedic procedures involving instrumentation of the medullary canal. A few cases of paradoxical cement embolism have also been described. Herein, we report a case of cortical bone void filler embolism to the infragenicular arteries during revision spine surgery. The cement had entered the aorta via the left L3 lumbar artery. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of embolism due to direct arterial migration of cement during an orthopedic procedure.

Late postoperative infection following spinal instrumentation: stainless steel versus titanium implants.

Late postoperative infection following instrumented spinal surgery is a clinical entity that has emerged in recent years. The extended surface of the spinal instrumentation in combination with hematogenous seeding or intraoperative inoculation is the main predisposing factor. In order to investigate the contribution of the instrumentation material (stainless steel versus titanium implants) and mechanical loosening, two groups of patients are presented. The first group includes 50 idiopathic scoliotic patients who were treated with first-generation posterior stainless steel spinal segmental multihook instrumentation [Texas Scottish Rite Hospital (TSRH) instrumentation system], and the second group includes 45 similar patients who were treated with newer titanium implants (MOSS MIAMI, XIA, and CD). Follow-up ranged from 3 to 13 years. Six patients from the first group and one patient from the second group presented with late infections 1 to 7 years postoperatively. Common intraoperative findings were excessive inflammatory tissue and some degree of instrumentation loosening and corrosion (stainless steel). Removal of instrumentation in combination with appropriate antibiotics was an effective treatment. Further study with long-term follow-up is necessary in order to understand the exact incidence and pathology of such infections.

Rare causes of scoliosis and spine deformity: experience and particular features.

BACKGROUND: Spine deformity can be idiopathic (more than 80% of cases), neuromuscular, congenital or neurofibromatosis-related. However, there are many disorders that may also be involved. We present our experience treating patients with scoliosis or other spine deformities related to rare clinical entities. METHODS: A retrospective study of the records of a school-screening study in North-West Greece was performed, covering a 10-year period (1992-2002). The records were searched for patients with deformities related to rare disorders. These patients were reviewed as regards to characteristics of underlying disorder and spine deformity, treatment and results, complications, intraoperative and anaesthesiologic difficulties particular to each case. RESULTS: In 13 cases, the spine deformity presented in relation to rare disorders. The underlying disorder was rare neurological disease in 2 cases (Rett syndrome, progressive hemidystonia), muscular disorders (facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, arthrogryposis) in 2 patients, osteogenesis imperfecta in 2 cases, Marfan syndrome, osteopetrosis tarda, spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita, cleidocranial dysplasia and Noonan syndrome in 1 case each. In 2 cases scoliosis was related to other congenital anomalies (phocomelia, blindness). Nine of these patients were surgically treated. Surgery was avoided in 3 patients. CONCLUSION: This study illustrates the fact that different disorders are related with curves with different characteristics, different accompanying problems and possible complications. Investigation and understanding of the underlying pathology is an essential part of the clinical evaluation and preoperative work-up, as clinical experience at any specific center is limited.