Aortic arch origin of the left vertebral artery: An Anatomical and Radiological Study with Significance for Avoiding Complications with Anterior Approaches to the Cervical Spine.

Complications from anterior approaches to the cervical spine are uncommon with normal anatomy. However, variant anatomy might predispose one to an increased incidence of injury during such procedures. We hypothesized that left vertebral arteries that arise from the aortic arch instead of the subclavian artery might take a more medial path in their ascent making them more susceptible to iatrogenic injury. Fifty human adult cadavers were examined for left vertebral arteries having an aortic arch origin and these were dissected along their entire cervical course. Additionally, two radiological databases of CTA and arteriography procedures were retrospectively examined for cases of aberrant left vertebral artery origin from the aortic arch over a two-year period. Two cadaveric specimens (4%) were found to have a left vertebral artery arising from the aortic arch. The retrospective radiological database analysis identified 13 cases (0.87%) of left vertebral artery origin from the aortic arch. Of all cases, vertebral arteries that arose from the aortic arch were much more likely to not only have a more medial course (especially their preforaminal segment) over the cervical vertebral bodies but also to enter a transverse foramen that was more cranially located than the normal C6 entrance of the vertebral artery. Spine surgeons who approach the anterior cervical spine should be aware that an aortic origin of the left vertebral artery is likely to be closer to the midline and less protected above the C6 vertebral level. Clin. Anat. 30:811-816, 2017. © 2017Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Comparing the Treatment Algorithm and Complications for Patients Undergoing an Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion at a Physician-Owned Specialty Hospital and a University-Owned Tertiary Care Hospital.

The purpose of this case-control study is to compare the treatment algorithm and complication rate for patients who undergo an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion at a physician-owned specialty hospital to those who undergo surgery at a university-owned tertiary care hospital. Two controls were identified for 77 patients, and no differences in demographic data were identified. The median time between the onset of symptoms and surgery was shorter for patients who had surgery at the tertiary care center than for patients who had surgery at the specialty hospital (26.7 weeks vs 32.7 weeks, P = .0004). Furthermore, a higher percentage of patients who had surgery at the specialty hospital attempted nonoperative treatments than patients who underwent surgery at the tertiary care hospital.

Artrodese na coluna cervical utilizando SICAP como substituto de enxerto ósseo / Artrodesis en la columna cervical utilizando SICAP como sustituto de injerto óseo / Cervical spine fusion utilizing silicated calcium phosphate bone graft substitute SICAP

OBJETIVO: Substitutos de enxerto ósseo autólogo foram desenvolvidos para evitar as complicações da retirada de enxerto ósseo autólogo. SiCaP (Actifuse, ApaTech EUA, Reino Unido) é um enxerto ósseo composto de cálcio-fosfato com um substituição de silicato na estrutura química, com uma estrutura tridimensional que parece osso natural. MÉTODOS: 19 pacientes foram submetidos à fusão óssea cervical e analisados retrospectivamente. A avaliação radiográfica e avaliação clínica foram realizadas utilizando o questionário Neck Disability Index e a escala análoga da dor (VAS) pré- e pós-operação. RESULTADOS: O período médio de acompanhamento pós-operatório foi de 14 meses ± 5 meses (7-30 meses). 11 pacientes foram submetidos à fusão via anterior; 5 pacientes via posterior e 3 pacientes via anterior e posterior. A revisão radiográfica mostrou 19/19 (100 por cento) de fusão óssea, nenhum caso apresentou subsidência, quebra ou soltura de material de implante ou movimento nos níveis fusionados. Nenhum exemplo de ossificação heterotópica ou de crescimento ósseo intracanal foi observado. Clinicamente, os escores médios do Neck Disability decresceram 13,3 pontos (media pré-op. de 34,5, pós-op. de 21,2, melhora de 39 por cento), a média da VAS para dor cervical decresceu 2 pontos (2,7 pré-op para 0,7 pós-op.; melhora de 74,1 por cento). Não foram observadas complicações como infecção, osteólise ou edema excessivo das partes moles. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados preliminares obtidos nesta série foram encorajadores com o uso do SICaP como enxerto ósseo, com sólida fusão óssea obtida em todos os casos e sem formação de ossificação heterotópica ou crescimento de osso intracanal. SIcaP demonstra ser um substituto confiável para o enxerto ósseo autólogo na coluna cervical.

OBJECTIVE: Bone graft substitutes have been developed to obviate the need for autograft from the iliac crest and its resultant complications. SiCaP (Actifuse, ApaTech US, UK) is a calcium phosphate bone graft substitute with selective controlled silicate substitution in a patented 3-dimensional structure resembling natural bone. METHODS: 19 patients who underwent cervical spine fusion were retrospectively reviewed. Radiographic evaluation and clinical evaluation were performed using Neck Disability Index questionnaire and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pre- and post-operatively. RESULTS: The mean post-operative follow-up was 14 ± 5 months, range 7-30 months. Eleven patients had an anterior approach, five patients had a posterior approach, and 3 had combined anterior-posterior approaches. Radiographic review showed 19/19 (100 percent) patients were considered fused, with no subsidence, hardware breakage, or hardware loosening. No instances of heterotopic bone formation or intracanal boney ingrowths were observed. Clinically, average Neck Disability scores decreased 13.3 points (pre-op 34.5, post-op 21.2, a 39 percent improvement); average VAS neck pain scores decreased 2.2 points (4.9 pre-op to 1.9 post-op; a 44.9 percent improvement; average VAS arm pain decreased 2.0 points (2.7 pre-op to 0.7 post-op, a 74.1 percent improvement). There were no complications such as infection, osteolysis, or abnormal swelling of soft tissues. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary results from this series with the use of SiCaP bone graft substitute were encouraging, with solid fusion occurring in all subjects, and no heterotopic bone formation or intracanal bone ingrowths. SiCaP seems to be a reliable alternative to autograft on cervical spine fusion achieving solid fusion with no complications.

OBJETIVO: Sustitutos de injerto óseo autólogo fueron desarrollados para evitar las complicaciones de la recogida de injerto óseo autólogo. SiCaP (Actifuse, ApaTech EE.UU, Reino Unido) es un injerto óseo compuesto de calcio-fosfato con una sustitución de silicato en la estructura química, con una estructura tridimensional que parece hueso natural. MÉTODOS: 19 pacientes fueron sometidos a fusión ósea cervical y analizados retrospectivamente. La evaluación radiográfica y la evaluación clínica fueron realizadas utilizandose el cuestionario Neck Disability Index y la escala análoga del dolor (VAS) pre y postoperación. RESULTADOS: El período promedio de seguimiento postoperatorio fue de 14 meses ± 5 meses (7-30 meses). Once pacientes fueron sometidos a fusión vía anterior; 5 pacientes vía posterior y 3 pacientes vía anterior y posterior. La revisión radiográfica mostró 19/19 (100 por ciento) de fusión ósea, ningún caso presentó subsidencia, rotura o soltura de material de implante o movimiento en los niveles fusionados. Ningún ejemplo de osificación heterotópica o de crecimiento óseo intracanal fue observado. Clínicamente, el promedio de las puntuaciones del Neck Disability disminuyeron 13,3 puntos (promedio preop. de 34,5, postop. de 21,2, mejora de 39 por ciento), el promedio de VAS para dolor cervical disminuyó 2 puntos (2,7 preop. para 0,7 postop.; mejora de 74,1 por ciento). No fueron observadas complicaciones como infección, osteólisis o edema excesivo de las partes blandas. CONCLUSIÓN: Los resultados preliminares obtenidos en esta serie feuron estimulantes con el uso de SICaP como injerto óseo, con sólida fusión ósea obtenida en todos los casos y sin formación de osificación heterotópica o crecimiento de hueso intracanal. SIcaP demuestra ser un sustituto confiable para el injerto óseo autólogo en la columna cervical.