RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The classic laminectomy for spinal decompression was the treatment of choice of the degenerative lumbar canal stenosis (LCS). Many surgeons prefer to add instrumented lumbar fusion to avoid future instability after the removal of posterior elements. Adding fusion is associated with more bleeding and longer periods of hospitalization. Minimally invasive lumbar decompression (MILD) has been advocated for successful decompression with less bleeding loss and shorter hospitalization. AIM OF THE WORK: To evaluate and compare the clinical outcomes of two different treatment modalities for degenerative LCS: the classic laminectomy with posterolateral transpedicular screw fixation and the MILD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty patients with degenerative LCS were randomized from two institutions: Ain Shams University Hospital and Arab Contractors Medical Center, who underwent surgeries for degenerative LCS between 2016 and 2018 with 1-year follow-up. The study compared two cohorts: Group A - 25 patients underwent classic lumbar laminectomy with posterolateral transpedicular fixation, and Group B - 25 patients underwent MILD. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between both treatment modalities in the VAS for leg pain and back pain, the patient satisfaction index, and the Oswestry disability index after 1 year. The fusion operations were associated with higher estimates of blood loss, longer hospital stay, and more financial costs. CONCLUSION: MILD has the same satisfactory results as classic laminectomy with posterolateral fixation for the treatment of degenerative LCS with less bleeding loss and shorter hospitalization. Since the results are comparable, MILD is suggested in low-income countries as Egypt for economic reasons.
RESUMEN
AIM: To characterize the sociodemographic, clinical and radiological findings of patients with depressed skull fractures overlying cranial dural sinuses that we have faced in our institute. In addition, to explore the indications and choices for the surgical and nonsurgical management of such cases, and assess outcomes in these two treatment groups. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We prospectively followed up a cohort of 34 patients with fractures over dural venous sinuses from January 2013 to December 2017. Twelve (35.1%) were simple depressed fractures (SDFs) and 22 (64.7%) were compound depressed fractures (CDFs). Eighteen patients (52.9%) were treated surgically, and 16 (47.1%) were treated conservatively. RESULTS: The mean age was 20.8 years. Thirty-two of the patients were males (94.12%). The mean time from trauma until hospital arrival was 3.8 hours, and the mean admission Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) was 13.7. Direct trauma was the most common mode of injury. Funduscopy was performed in 16 patients (47.1%), and magnetic resonance venography (MRV) in four patients (11.8%). Twenty-four patients (70.59%) had the fracture overlying the superior sagittal sinus (SSS). The mean length of hospital stay was five days, and the mean follow-up duration was 6.8 months. Twenty-eight patients (82.35%) had a good recovery. CONCLUSION: The majority of SDFs and some CDFs overlying dural sinuses can be managed safely without major surgical intervention. Conservation should be favored when the sinus is patent, dura intact, and bone displacement is insignificant in neurologically intact patients with an apparently clean wound. Otherwise, surgery should be considered. We also propose including a funduscopic examination and venogram as parts of the initial trauma work-up for these patients.
