Comparison of perioperative outcomes in obese and non-obese patients subjected to open lumbar spine surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Obesity is a global epidemic affecting developing countries. The relationship between obesity and perioperative outcomes during elective lumbar spine surgery remains controversial, especially in those without morbid disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively revised the medical records of patients with lumbar spine degeneration subjected to elective surgery. The data retrieved included demographic and clinical characteristics, body mass index (BMI), obesity status (BMI ≥ 30), surgical interventions, estimated blood loss (EBL), operative time, length of stay (LOS), and post-operative complications. Perioperative outcomes were compared between Grade I-II obese and non-obese individuals. RESULTS: We enrolled 53 patients, 18 with Grade I-II obesity. Their median age was 51, with no differences in gender, comorbidities, laboratory parameters, and surgical procedures received between groups. No clinically relevant differences were found between grade I-II obese and non-obese participants in EBL (300 mL vs. 250 mL, p = 0.069), operative time (3.2 h vs. 3.0 h, p = 0.037), and LOS (6 days vs. 5 days, p = 0.3). Furthermore, BMI was not associated with the incidence of significant bleeding and long stay but showed a modest correlation with operative time. CONCLUSION: Grade I-II obesity does not increase surgical complexity nor perioperative complications during open lumbar spine surgery.

OBJETIVO: La obesidad es una epidemia mundial que afecta a países subdesarrollados. Su relación con los resultados de la cirugía de columna lumbar electiva sigue siendo controvertida, especialmente en obesos sin enfermedad mórbida. MÉTODOS: Se revisaron los expedientes de pacientes con degeneración de la columna lumbar sometidos a cirugía. Los datos recuperados incluyeron características demográficas y clínicas, índice de masa corporal (IMC), estado de obesidad (IMC > 30), intervenciones quirúrgicas, sangrado estimado, tiempo operatorio, tiempo de estancia y complicaciones. Los resultados se compararon entre individuos obesos grado I-II y controles. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 53 pacientes, 18 con obesidad de grado I-II. La edad media fue de 51 años, sin diferencias en el sexo, las comorbilidades, los parámetros de laboratorio y los procedimientos quirúrgicos recibidos entre grupos. No se encontraron diferencias relevantes entre los participantes obesos y los no obesos en sangrado (300 vs. 250 mL, p = 0.069), tiempo operatorio (3.2 vs. 3.0 horas, p = 0.037) y estancia (6 vs. 5 días, p = 0.3). El IMC no se asoció con hemorragia y larga estancia, pero mostró una correlación modesta con el tiempo operatorio. CONCLUSIONES: La obesidad grado I-II no predispone a complicaciones durante la cirugía de columna lumbar.

Spinopelvic Parameters in the Clinical and Functional Outcomes of Patients Submitted to Lumbar Interbody Fusion Surgery ­ A Prospective Study / Parâmetros espinopélvicos nos resultados clínicos e funcionais de pacientes submetidos a fusão intersomática lombar: um estudo prospectivo

Objectives The relevance of spinopelvic parameters in the patients' clinical and functional outcomes has been widely studied in long spinal fusion. Yet, the importance of the spinopelvic parameters in short-segment fusion surgeries needs further investigation. We analyzed the spinopelvic parameters and surgical outcomes of patients undergoing short-segment lumbar interbody fusion. Materials and Methods An observational, prospective study was conducted between January and June 2021. We selected 25 patients with lumbar stenosis, with or without concomitant spondylolisthesis, undergoing transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion. Variables related to the patient, diagnosis, and surgery were collected. The clinical and functional outcomes were assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale for low-back and leg pain and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). The surgical outcomes and spinopelvic parameters were analyzed pre- and postoperatively. Results There was a significant clinical and functional improvement after surgery (p < 0.001), with a mean ODI decrease of 63.6%. The variables of obesity, concomitant spondylolisthesis, absence of osteotomy, and two-level fusion were all associated with lower levels of improvement after surgery (p < 0.05). Pelvic incidence minus lumbar lordosis (PI-LL) was the only parameter that significantly changed regarding the pre and postoperative periods (p < 0.05). Before surgery, PI-LL < 10° correlates with less low-back pain after surgery (r » 0.435; p < 0.05). Postoperatively, no correlation was found between surgical outcomes and all the spinopelvic parameters analyzed. Conclusions The clinical and functional outcomes significantly improved with the surgical intervention but did not correlate with the change in spinopelvic parameters. Patients with preoperative PI-LL < 10° seem to benefit the most from surgery, showing greater improvement in back pain.

Objetivos A influência dos parâmetros espinopélvicos nos resultados clínicos e funcionais dos pacientes tem sido amplamente estudada nas cirurgias de fusão espinhal que envolvem longos segmentos. Contudo, a literatura é escassa acerca da fusão de segmentos curtos. Analisamos assim os parâmetros espinopélvicos e os resultados cirúrgicos de pacientes submetidos a fusão intersomática lombar de segmentos curtos. Materiais e Métodos Realizou-se um estudo prospectivo observacional entre janeiro e junho de 2021. Selecionaram-se 25 pacientes com estenose lombar, com ou sem espondilolistese, submetidos a fusão intersomática lombar transforaminal. Colheram-se dados relacionados com o paciente, o diagnóstico e a cirurgia. Os resultados clínicos e funcionais foram avaliados por meio da Escala Visual Analógica para dor lombar e dos membros inferiores e pela Escala de Incapacidade de Oswestry (Oswestry Disability Index, ODI, em inglês). Os resultados cirúrgicos e os parâmetros espinopélvicos foram analisadas no pré e no pós-operatório. Resultados Verificou-se uma melhoria clínica e funcional significativa após a cirurgia (p < 0,001), com redução média do ODI de 63,6%. As variáveis obesidade, espondilolistese concomitante, ausência de osteotomia e fusão de dois níveis associaram-se a menor melhoria no pós-operatório (p < 0,05). O único parâmetro que mudou significativamente antes e após a cirurgia (p < 0,05) foi a incidência pélvica menos a lordose lombar (IP-LL). No pré-operatório, uma IP-LL < 10° correlacionou-se com menos dor lombar após a cirurgia (r » 0,435; p < 0,05). No pós-operatório, não houve correlação entre os resultados clínicos e funcionais e os parâmetros espinopélvicos. Conclusão Os resultados clínicos e funcionais melhoraram significativamente após a cirurgia, mas não se correlacionam com a mudança dos parâmetros espinopélvicos. Pacientes com IP-LL< 10° no pré-operatório apresentam maior melhoria da dor lombar no pós-operatório.

A prospective clinical study comparing MI-TLIF with unilateral versus bilateral transpedicular fixation in low grade lumbar spondylolisthesis.

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MI-TLIF) has become one of the standard techniques for approaching ipsilateral decompression, anterior column fusion, and posterior stabilization. This procedure is usually accompanied by the placement of bilateral transpedicular screws in the corresponding segment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of unilateral screw fixation compared with bilateral fixation in patients diagnosed with low-grade symptomatic lumbar spondylolisthesis who underwent an MI-TLIF technique. METHODS: A prospective and comparative study was performed in 67 patients with grade 1 symptomatic lumbar spondylolisthesis. The sample was allocated on both unilateral fixation group (n=33) and bilateral fixation group (n=34). Clinical outcomes were evaluated using Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), visual analogue scale (VAS) for leg and back pain, and Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36), preoperatively, and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Changes over time and differences between the groups were analyzed. Statistical analyses included: Friedman test, Student's t-test and Mann-Whitney's U. A two-tailed P value of <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: During 1-year of evaluation there were no significant clinical differences between both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with grade 1 symptomatic lumbar spondylolisthesis treated with MI-TLIF with unilateral screw fixation had similar clinical results than those treated with bilateral fixation at 12 months postoperatively.

Cajas intersomáticas lumbares: ¿medios de fusión o solo espaciadores? / Lumbar interbody cages: fusing means or only spacers?

Introducción: La fusión quirúrgica de la columna lumbar es un método muy utilizado para el tratamiento de la inestabilidad segmentaria lumbar dolorosa. En la actualidad, las dos técnicas de fusión instrumentada más utilizadas son la fusión posterolateral con tornillos pedicula-res y la fusión circunferencial mediante asociación de caja intersomática. Si bien hay evidencia de que la asociación de dispositivos intersomáticos aumenta la tasa de fusión, la mayoría de los estudios no discriminan si esta se produce solo de forma posterolateral o si se asocia una fusión anterior. El objetivo de este trabajo es determinar si existe fusión ósea real a nivel de las cajas intersomáticas o si estas actúan solo como espaciadores. Materiales y métodos: Se analizaron 28 pacientes con patología de la columna lumbar sometidos a artrodesis lumbar circunferencial en un solo nivel entre mayo de 2007 y enero de 2012, mediante tomografía computarizada posquirúrgica para valorar la presencia o no de artrodesis anterior. Se efectuó un estudio de valor terapéutico, descriptivo, de observación (nivel de evidencia IV); mediante evaluación estadística se realizó un análisis de frecuencias para describir la proporción de casos con fusión anterior. Resultados: Se detectó una tasa de fusión del 92,86% y falta de fusión radiológica anterior en el 7,14% de los pacientes. Conclusiones: Hay una alta tasa de fusión anterior a nivel de las cajas intersomáticas; de este modo, se demuestra que dichos dispositivos actúan como medios de fusión y no solo como espaciadores.(AU)

Background: Surgical fusion of the lumbar spine is a frequently used method for the treatment of painful lumbar segmental instability; currently the two instrumented fusion techniques most commonly used are posterolateral fusion with pedicle screws, and circumferential fusion by association of interbody cages. Although evidence shows that the association of intersomatic devices increases the fusion rate, most studies do not discriminate if this fusion occurs only posterolaterally, or an anterior fusion also occurs. The aim of this study is to determine if there is a true bone fusion at the level of interbody cages or if they act only as spacers. Methods: We analyzed 28 patients with lumbar spine pathology surgically treated with one level circumferential lumbar fusion from May 2007 to January 2012, using post-surgical computed tomography, to assess the presence or absence of anterior arthrodesis. A therapeutic value, descriptive, observational study was conducted (evidence level IV); by statistical evaluation, frequency analysis was performed to describe the proportion of cases with anterior fusion. Results: The fusion rate reached 92.86%; while there was no anterior radiological fusion in 7.14% of patients. Conclusions: There is a high rate of anterior fusion at the level of the interbody cages, thus demonstrating that these devices act as fusing means and not only as anterior spacers.(AU)

Cajas intersomáticas lumbares: ¿medios de fusión o solo espaciadores? / Lumbar interbody cages: fusing means or only spacers?

Introducción: La fusión quirúrgica de la columna lumbar es un método muy utilizado para el tratamiento de la inestabilidad segmentaria lumbar dolorosa. En la actualidad, las dos técnicas de fusión instrumentada más utilizadas son la fusión posterolateral con tornillos pedicula-res y la fusión circunferencial mediante asociación de caja intersomática. Si bien hay evidencia de que la asociación de dispositivos intersomáticos aumenta la tasa de fusión, la mayoría de los estudios no discriminan si esta se produce solo de forma posterolateral o si se asocia una fusión anterior. El objetivo de este trabajo es determinar si existe fusión ósea real a nivel de las cajas intersomáticas o si estas actúan solo como espaciadores. Materiales y métodos: Se analizaron 28 pacientes con patología de la columna lumbar sometidos a artrodesis lumbar circunferencial en un solo nivel entre mayo de 2007 y enero de 2012, mediante tomografía computarizada posquirúrgica para valorar la presencia o no de artrodesis anterior. Se efectuó un estudio de valor terapéutico, descriptivo, de observación (nivel de evidencia IV); mediante evaluación estadística se realizó un análisis de frecuencias para describir la proporción de casos con fusión anterior. Resultados: Se detectó una tasa de fusión del 92,86% y falta de fusión radiológica anterior en el 7,14% de los pacientes. Conclusiones: Hay una alta tasa de fusión anterior a nivel de las cajas intersomáticas; de este modo, se demuestra que dichos dispositivos actúan como medios de fusión y no solo como espaciadores.

Background: Surgical fusion of the lumbar spine is a frequently used method for the treatment of painful lumbar segmental instability; currently the two instrumented fusion techniques most commonly used are posterolateral fusion with pedicle screws, and circumferential fusion by association of interbody cages. Although evidence shows that the association of intersomatic devices increases the fusion rate, most studies do not discriminate if this fusion occurs only posterolaterally, or an anterior fusion also occurs. The aim of this study is to determine if there is a true bone fusion at the level of interbody cages or if they act only as spacers. Methods: We analyzed 28 patients with lumbar spine pathology surgically treated with one level circumferential lumbar fusion from May 2007 to January 2012, using post-surgical computed tomography, to assess the presence or absence of anterior arthrodesis. A therapeutic value, descriptive, observational study was conducted (evidence level IV); by statistical evaluation, frequency analysis was performed to describe the proportion of cases with anterior fusion. Results: The fusion rate reached 92.86%; while there was no anterior radiological fusion in 7.14% of patients. Conclusions: There is a high rate of anterior fusion at the level of the interbody cages, thus demonstrating that these devices act as fusing means and not only as anterior spacers.