Free Vascularized Fibula Graft as Primary Salvage Procedure for Acute Cervical Osteomyelitis Caused by Epidural Abscess.

Acute cervical osteomyelitis due to an epidural abscess and pyogenic spondylodiscitis in an immunosuppressed patient with progressive myelopathy is a challenge for the reconstructive surgeon. This report presents our novel approach to treat such a condition in a 56-year-old patient in whom antibiotic treatment and decompression of the medulla by laminectomy of C4-C6 failed. Under general anesthesia, debridement of all infected tissue, including anterior corpectomy of C4-C6, was performed. Simultaneously, a free vascularized fibula graft (FVFG) was harvested, adapted to the bone defect, and anastomosed to the superior thyroid artery and external jugular vein. The graft was stabilized with an anterior plate. A scheduled posterior stabilization was performed 1 week later. Staphylococcus aureus was cultured from bone samples and was treated with antibiotics. The postoperative course was uncomplicated besides a dorsal midline defect 6 weeks postoperatively that was closed with a sensate midline-based perforator flap. Five years on, the patient is infection free, and regular control computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scan images show progressive fusion and hypertrophy of the fibula to C3/C7 vertebrae. An FVFG combined with posterior stabilization could be a promising primary salvage procedure in cases with progressive myelopathy caused by acute cervical osteomyelitis due to spinal infection. The FVFG contributes to blood circulation, delivery of antibiotics, and an immunological response to the infected wound bed and can stimulate rapid fusion and hypertrophy over time.

Lumbar microdiscectomy for sciatica in adolescents: a multicentre observational registry-based study.

BACKGROUND: Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is rare in the adolescent population. Factors predisposing to LDH in adolescents differ from adults with more cases being related to trauma or structural malformations. Further, there are limited data on patient-reported outcomes after lumbar microdiscectomy in adolescents. Our aim was to compare clinical outcomes at 1 year following single-level lumbar microdiscectomy in adolescents (13-19 years old) compared to younger adults (20-50 years old) with LDH. METHODS: Data were collected through the Norwegian Registry for Spine Surgery. Patients were eligible if they had radiculopathy due to LDH, underwent single-level lumbar microdiscectomy between January 2007 and May 2014, and were between 13 and 50 years old at time of surgery. The primary endpoint was change in Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) 1 year after surgery. Secondary endpoints were generic quality of life (EuroQol five dimensions [EQ-5D]), back pain numerical rating scale (NRS), leg pain NRS and complications. RESULTS: A total of 3,245 patients were included (97 patients 13-19 years old and 3,148 patients 20-50 years old). A significant improvement in ODI was observed for the whole population, but there was no difference between groups (0.6; 95% CI, -4.5 to 5.8; p = 0.811). There were no differences between groups concerning EQ-5D (-0.04; 95% CI, -0.15 to 0.07; p = 0.442), back pain NRS (-0.4; 95% CI, -1.2 to 0.4; p = 0.279), leg pain NRS (-0.4; 95% CI, -1.2 to 0.5; p = 0.374) or perioperative complications (1.0% for adolescents, 5.1% for adults, p = 0.072). CONCLUSIONS: The effectiveness and safety of single-level microdiscectomy are similar in adolescents and the adult population at 1-year follow-up.

Open discectomy vs microdiscectomy for lumbar disc herniation - a protocol for a pragmatic comparative effectiveness study.

Introduction:  Since the introduction of lumbar microdiscectomy in the 1970's, many studies have attempted to compare the effectiveness of this method with that of standard open discectomy with conflicting results. This observational study is designed to compare the relative effectiveness of microdiscectomy (MD) with open discectomy (OD) for treating lumbar disc herniation, -within a large cohort, recruited from daily clinical practice. Methods and analysis:   This study will include patients registered in the Norwegian Registry for Spine Surgery (NORspine). This clinical registry collects prospective data, including preoperative and postoperative outcome measures as well as individual and demographic parameters. The primary outcome is change in Oswestry disability index between baseline and 12 months after surgery. Secondary outcome measures are improvement of leg pain and changes in health related quality of life measured by the Euro-Qol-5D between baseline and 12 months after surgery, complications to surgery, duration of surgical procedures and length of hospital stay.

Modic type I changes and recovery of back pain after lumbar microdiscectomy.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether the presence of Modic changes type I (MC I) found on preoperative MRI scans represent a risk factor for persistent back pain 12 months after surgery amongst patients operated for lumbar disc herniation. METHODS: Cohort study of 178 consecutive patients operated with lumbar microdiscectomy. Preoperative MRI scans were evaluated by two independent neuroradiologists. Primary outcome measure was the visual analogue scale (VAS) for back pain. Secondary outcome measures were; VAS for leg pain, physical function (Oswestry disability index), and health-related quality of life (EQ-5D), self-reported benefit of the operation and employment status. The presence of MC I was used as exposition variable and adjusted for other risk factors in multivariate analyses. RESULTS: The Modic classification showed a high inter-observer reproducibility. Patients with MC I had less improvement of back pain 12 months after surgery, compared to those who had no or other types of MC, but this negative association no longer showed statistical significance when adjusted for smoking, which remained the only independent risk factor for persistent back pain. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with preoperative MC I can expect less but still significant improvement of back pain 1 year after microdiscectomy, but not if they smoke cigarettes.

Would loss to follow-up bias the outcome evaluation of patients operated for degenerative disorders of the lumbar spine?

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Loss to follow-up may bias the outcome assessments of clinical registries. In this study, we wanted to determine whether outcomes were different in responding and non-responding patients who were included in a clinical spine surgery registry, at two years of follow-up. In addition, we wanted to identify risk factors for failure to respond. METHODS: 633 patients who were operated for degenerative disorders of the lumbar spine were followed for 2 years using a local clinical spine registry. Those who did not attend the clinic and those who did not answer a postal questionnaire-for whom 2 years of outcome data were missing-and who would be lost to follow-up according to the standard procedures of the registry protocols, were defined as non-respondents. They were traced and interviewed by telephone. Outcome measures were: improvement in health-related quality of life (EQ-5D), leg pain, and back pain; and also general state of health, employment status, and perceived benefits of the operation. RESULTS: We found no statistically significant differences in outcome between respondents (78% of the patients) and non-respondents (22%). Receipt of postal questionnaires (not being summoned for a follow-up visit) was the strongest risk factor for failure to respond. Forgetfulness appeared to be an important cause. Older patients and those who had complications were more likely to respond. INTERPRETATION: A loss to follow-up of 22% would not bias conclusions about overall treatment effects and, importantly, there were no indications of worse outcomes in non-respondents.

Clinical outcomes and safety assessment in elderly patients undergoing decompressive laminectomy for lumbar spinal stenosis: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: To assess safety, risk factors and clinical outcomes in elderly patients with spinal stenosis after decompressive laminectomy. METHODS: A prospective cohort of patients 70 years and older with spinal stenosis undergoing conventional laminectomy without fusion (n = 101) were consecutively enrolled from regular clinical practice and reassessed at 3 and 12 months. Primary outcome was change in health related quality of life measured (HRQL) with EuroQol-5 D (EQ-5D). Secondary outcomes were safety assessment, changes in Oswestry disability index (ODI), Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS) score for self reported health, VAS score for leg and back pain and patient satisfaction. We used regression analyses to evaluate risk factors for less improvement. RESULTS: The mean EQ-5 D total score were 0.32, 0.63 and 0.60 at baseline, 3 months and 12 months respectively, and represents a statistically significant (P < 0.001) improvement. Effect size was > 0.8. Mean ODI score at baseline was 44.2, at 3 months 25.6 and at 27.9. This represents an improvement for all post-operative scores. A total of 18 (18.0%) complications were registered with 6 (6.0%) classified as major, including one perioperative death. Patients stating that the surgery had been beneficial at 3 months was 82 (89.1%) and at 12 months 73 (86.9%). The only predictor found was patients with longer duration of leg pain had less improvement in ODI (P < 0.001). Increased age or having complications did not predict a worse outcome in any of the outcome variables. CONCLUSIONS: Properly selected patients of 70 years and older can expect a clinical meaningful improvement of HRQL, functional status and pain after open laminectomy without fusion. The treatment seems to be safe. However, patients with longstanding leg-pain prior to operation are less likely to improve one year after surgery.