Patient-Reported Outcomes and Return to Work after CT-Guided Percutaneous Lumbar Discectomy: A Prospective Study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of percutaneous lumbar discectomy (PLD) under computed tomography (CT) guidance on pain and functional capacities and to estimate the speed of recovery by assessing the time to return to work. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients treated with PLD were prospectively included between December 2019 and April 2021. Data regarding pain, duration of symptoms, analgesia intakes, time of absence from work, and the Oswestry disability index (ODI) were collected. Patients were followed-up during 6 months. Duration of hospitalization and time to return to work were reported. The Fisher test was used to compare nominal variables, the Kruskal-Wallis test to compare ordinal variables, and the Student t test to compare quantitative continuous variables. RESULTS: A total of 87 patients were evaluated (median age, 56 years; interquartile range [IQR], 43-66 years). The median ODI decreased from 44 (IQR, 33-53) to 7 (IQR, 2-17) at 6 months (P < .001). The median visual analog scale score decreased from 8 (IQR, 8-9) to 2 (IQR, 0-3) within 6 months (P < .001). In total, 96.5% of patients were discharged on the day of the procedure, and 3.5% were discharged on the following day. No severe adverse events were reported according to the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) classification system. Of the 57 patients previously employed, 50 were able to return to work during the follow-up, with a median time of 8 days (IQR, 0-20 days). CONCLUSIONS: Symptomatic lumbar disc herniation can be successfully treated using PLD, resulting in significant improvement in symptoms and functional capacities and a fast return to work.

CT-Guided Percutaneous Vertebroplasty for Vertebral Non-union Following Posterior Fixation: A Preliminary Retrospective Study.

PURPOSE: Traumatic thoracolumbar vertebral fractures are frequently treated with posterior fixation (PF) and vertebral augmentation. Sometimes, it is deemed too risky to offer vertebral augmentation under fluoroscopic guidance alone. Adjuvant CT/fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) could be offered in certain scenarios. The aim was to evaluate feasibility, safety and effectiveness of PVP in patients presenting with vertebral non-union (VNU) following PF performed without concomitant vertebral augmentation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients treated in our institution with PVP between July 2015 and July 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients treated with CT/fluoroscopy-guided PVP under local anesthesia for symptomatic VNU following PF were selected. Three criteria were established to assess cement distribution, considering vertebral filling of: (1) fracture cleft, (2) anterior two-thirds of the vertebral body, (3) from superior to inferior endplates. Numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) assessing grade of discomfort (0 = no pain; 10 = worst pain) and complications were evaluated before and 1 month after PVP. RESULTS: Ten patients were identified (mean age 53 ± 12y). Mean time between PF and PVP was 9.6 [2-35] months. Two patients required further cement injection with a second PVP. Eight patients had satisfactory vertebral filling according to the three criteria. Mean NPRS reduction was 2.7(-42%, p < 0.05). No significant complications occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Combined CT/fluoroscopy guidance seems a useful tool to perform PVP in VNU following PF, even in presence of orthopedic metalwork. Interventional radiologists may help in these scenarios, performing an adjuvant PVP under local anesthesia. In this small series, the procedure seems safe and effective and could be taken in consideration as alternative to revision surgery.