"Del miedo a la resiliencia". Estudio fenomenológico sobre el impacto de la pandemia por COVID-19 en cuidadoras de pacientes dependientes en hemodiálisis / "From fear to resilience". Phenomenological study on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on caregivers of dependent hemodialysis patients

Objetivo: Profundizar en el conocimiento sobre las vivencias y el soporte percibido en cuidadoras primarias que atendieron a pacientes dependientes en tratamiento con hemodiálisis durante el periodo de pandemia por COVID-19 en la ciudad de Madrid.Material y Método:estudio transversal efectuado con diez cuidadoras primarias de pacientes en tratamiento de hemodiálisis que habían proporcionado cuidados durante el periodo de marzo 2020 a junio 2021. La recolección de los datos se realizó mediante entrevistas semiestructuradas a distancia hasta conseguir la saturación de las unidades de significado. Se realizó un análisis cualitativo fenomenológico mediante el método de siete pasos de Colaizzi.Resultados:del análisis de los discursos emergieron dimensiones asociadas a diferentes subcategorías: miedo inicial sobre la enfermedad, pérdida de libertad, riesgo percibido durante el transporte, soporte percibido por parte de los centros de diálisis, capacidad de resiliencia, miedo a la muerte e impacto de la vacunación.Conclusiones:en la etapa álgida del brote epidémico las vivencias de las cuidadoras estuvieron muy influidas por el desconocimiento de la enfermedad y el miedo al contagio. Adaptaron medidas de auto prevención para mantener a salvo a su familiar. Apreciaron la seguridad proporcionada por los profesionales de los centros. Les preocupaba los riesgos inherentes a los traslados y la falta de soporte de los servicios sociales. Son conscientes de su propia fragilidad y la de la persona cuidada y no perciben grandes cambios ni en su forma de vida ni en su esperanza de futuro, pese a la vacunación y otros adelantos científicos. (AU)

Objective: Deepening knowledge of the experiences and support perceived in primary caregivers who attended patients in hemodialysis treatment during the pandemic period for COVID-19 in the city of Madrid.Material and Method:Cross-sectional study conducted with ten primary caregivers of patients in hemodialysis treatment who had provided care during the period from March 2020 to June 2021. The collection of the data was carried out through semi-structured distance interviews to achieve saturation of the units of meaning. A phenomenological qualitative analysis was carried out using Colaizzi’s seven-pass method.Results:From the analysis of the speeches, dimensions associated with different subcategories emerged: initial fear about the disease, loss of freedom, perceived risk during transport, perceived support from dialysis centres, resilience, fear of death and impact of vaccination.Conclusions:At the height of the outbreak, caregivers’ experiences were strongly influenced by their lack of knowledge of the disease and fear of infection. They adapted self-prevention measures to keep their family member safe. They appreciated the safety provided by the professionals in the centres. They were concerned about the risks inherent in transfers and the lack of support from social services. They are aware of their own and the cared-for person’s frailty and do not perceive major changes in their way of life or in their hope for the future, despite vaccination and other scientific advances. (AU)

Elective Lumbar Spine Surgery in Depressed Patients: Is it Worth it?

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to compare surgical results (pain, function, and satisfaction) between a group of depressed patients and a nondepressed group who had been operated on for a degenerative lumbar condition. METHODS: Prospective observational study. Preoperative pain (lumbar and radicular visual analog scale [VAS]), function (Oswestry Disability Index [ODI]), and depression (Zung depression scale) data were collected in patients listed to be operated on for a lumbar degenerative condition. One year postoperatively, ODI and VAS data were collected again as well as a satisfaction question (are you satisfied with the surgical results? Yes/no). RESULTS: Ninety-seven patients were included in the study, 78 nondepressed patients (80.4%) and 19 depressed patients (19.6%). Preoperatively, depressed patients had more lumbar pain (P = .00) and more functional limitation (P = .01) than nondepressed patients. One year postoperatively, depressed patients had more radicular pain (P = .029) and more functional limitation (P = .03) than non-depressed patients. The overall improvement of pain and function was similar between both groups (not significant). Seventy percent of depressed patients and 80% of nondepressed patients were satisfied with the surgical outcome (P = .52) 1 year postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Depressed patients experience the same overall level of improvement as nondepressed patients, despite having more pain and functional limitation preoperatively and 1 year after elective lumbar spine surgery than nondepressed patients. The level of satisfaction does not differ significantly between the two groups. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2.

Encuesta de las medidas de control de Staphylococcus aureusresistente a meticilina en los hospitales que participan en el programa VINCat / Survey of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus control measures in hospitals participating in the VINCat program

INTRODUCCIÓN: VINCat es un programa de vigilancia de la infección nosocomial en los hospitales de Cataluña. El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar el cumplimiento de las medidas de control de Staphylococcus aureus resistente a meticilina (SARM) en dichos centros. MÉTODOS: De enero a marzo de 2013 se realizó una encuesta por correo sobre las características de los hospitales y la aplicación de las medidas de control de SARM. RESULTADOS: Respondieron 53 hospitales (>500 camas: 7; 200-500 camas: 14;<200 camas: 32; tenían UCI: 29). Disponían de alerta informática de reingresos el 63%. Realizaban vigilancia activa de los traslados de otro hospital el 46,2%, o centro de larga estancia el 55,8%, siendo ambas medidas significativamente más frecuentes en hospitales con una tasa de SARM≤22% (mediana global). Observaban el cumplimento de higiene de manos el 77,4% de los centros y fue mayor al 50% en el 69,7%. Todos los hospitales aplicaban precauciones de contacto, aunque el 62,3% no disponían de material clínico de uso frecuente exclusivo. La limpieza de la habitación se realizaba más frecuentemente en el 54,7% y tenían programas de adecuación del uso de antibióticos el 67,9%. CONCLUSIONES: Este estudio informa sobre la implementación de medidas preventivas de SARM en hospitales del programa VINCat. Aunque la mayoría de los hospitales disponen de un protocolo específico, el cumplimento de las medidas es mejorable, especialmente la detección activa en pacientes de riesgo, la adherencia a la higiene de manos, la limpieza más frecuente de la habitación y la optimización del uso de antibióticos

INTRODUCTION: VINCat is a nosocomial infection surveillance program in hospitals in Catalonia. The aim of the study was to determine the surveillance and control measures of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in these centres. METHODS: An e-mail survey was carried out from January to March 2013 with questions related to the characteristics of the hospitals and their control measures for MRSA. RESULTS: A response was received from 53 hospitals (>500 beds: 7; 200-500 beds: 14;<200 beds: 32; had ICU: 29). Computer alert of readmissions was available in 63%. There was active surveillance of patients admitted from another hospital (46.2%) or a long-term-care centre (55.8%), both being significantly more common measures in hospitals with a rate of MRSA≤22% (global median). Compliance with hand hygiene was observed in 77.4% of the centres, and was greater than 50% in 69.7% of them. All hospitals had contact precautions, although 62.3% did not have exclusive frequently used clinical material in bedrooms. The room cleaning was performed more frequently in 54.7% of hospitals, and 67.9% of them had programs for the appropriate use of antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides information on the implementation of measures to prevent MRSA in hospitals participating in the VINCat program. Most of the centres have an MRSA protocol, however compliance with it should be improved, especially in areas such as active detection on admission in patients at risk, hand hygiene adherence, cleaning frequency and optimising the use of antibiotics

[Survey of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus control measures in hospitals participating in the VINCat program]. / Encuesta de las medidas de control de Staphylococcus aureus resistente a meticilina en los hospitales que participan en el programa VINCat.

INTRODUCTION: VINCat is a nosocomial infection surveillance program in hospitals in Catalonia. The aim of the study was to determine the surveillance and control measures of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in these centres. METHODS: An e-mail survey was carried out from January to March 2013 with questions related to the characteristics of the hospitals and their control measures for MRSA. RESULTS: A response was received from 53 hospitals (>500 beds: 7; 200-500 beds: 14;<200 beds: 32; had ICU: 29). Computer alert of readmissions was available in 63%. There was active surveillance of patients admitted from another hospital (46.2%) or a long-term-care centre (55.8%), both being significantly more common measures in hospitals with a rate of MRSA≤22% (global median). Compliance with hand hygiene was observed in 77.4% of the centres, and was greater than 50% in 69.7% of them. All hospitals had contact precautions, although 62.3% did not have exclusive frequently used clinical material in bedrooms. The room cleaning was performed more frequently in 54.7% of hospitals, and 67.9% of them had programs for the appropriate use of antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides information on the implementation of measures to prevent MRSA in hospitals participating in the VINCat program. Most of the centres have an MRSA protocol, however compliance with it should be improved, especially in areas such as active detection on admission in patients at risk, hand hygiene adherence, cleaning frequency and optimising the use of antibiotics.

Management of degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis: an evidence-based review.

Lumbar spinal stenosis has become one of the most disabling pathologies in the elderly population.Some additional conditions such as foraminal stenosis or degenerative spondylosis with a history of back pain and leg pain must be considered before treatment.A completely appropriate protocol and unified management of spinal stenosis have not yet been well defined.The objective of this literature review is to provide evidence-based recommendations reflected in the highest-quality clinical literature available to address key clinical questions surrounding the management of degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis. Cite this article: Covaro A, Vilà-Canet G, García de Frutos A, Ubierna MT, Ciccolo F, Caceres E. Management of degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis: an evidence-based review article. EFORT Open Rev 2016;1:267-274. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.1.000030.

Poor outcomes and satisfaction in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis surgery: the relevance of the body mass index and self-image.

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: The purpose of this study was to evaluate patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) to determine whether a low body mass index (BMI) influences surgery outcomes and satisfaction. METHODS: There were 39 patients in this prospective 3-year cohort study. The BMI, Cobb angle, the Body Shape Questionnaire 14 (BSQ-14), the Scoliosis Research Society Questionnaire 22 (SRS-22) and eight satisfaction questions results were obtained. Having a BMI greater than or less than 18 kg/m(2) was used as a determiner to allocate patients to groups. As a low BMI is related to the presence of a disturbance in body perception, patients were also dichotomized by using the BSQ-14. RESULTS: All scales were worse in both slimmer patients and the group with a body perception disorder. The group with a BMI <18 kg/m(2) obtained a total of 82.31 points in the SRS-22, and it was 93.45 points for the group with a BMI >18 kg/m(2) (p = 0.001). In terms of satisfaction, the percentage of patients that would undergo surgery again was 30.8 vs 69.2 % (p = 0.054). Patients with an alteration of physical perception obtained a total SRS-22 of 82.90 points versus 96.10 points in the control group (p < 0.001). No differences in terms of the Cobb correction (p = 0.29) or the percentage of correction (p = 0.841) were found in any case. CONCLUSION: The alteration of physical perception and a low BMI negatively affect the outcomes in AIS surgery, regardless of the curve magnitude and the percentage of correction. Considerable care should be taken in recommending surgical correction to these patients.

Viability and long-term survival of short-segment posterior fixation in thoracolumbar burst fractures.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Short-segment pedicle screw instrumentation constructs for the treatment of thoracolumbar fractures gained popularity in the 1980s. The load-sharing classification (LSC) is a straightforward way to describe the extent of bony comminution, amount of fracture displacement, and amount of correction of kyphotic deformity in a spinal fracture. There are no studies evaluating the relevance of fracture comminution/traumatic kyphosis on the long-term radiologic outcome of burst fractures treated by short-segment instrumentation with screw insertion in the fractured level. PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of the six-screw construct in the treatment of thoracolumbar junction burst fractures and the influence of the LSC score on the 2-year radiologic outcome. STUDY DESIGN: Case series of consecutive patients of a single university hospital. PATIENT SAMPLE: Consecutive patients from one university hospital with nonosteoporotic thoracolumbar burst fractures. OUTCOME MEASURES: Being a radiology-based study, the outcome measures are radiologic parameters (regional kyphosis [RK], local kyphosis, and thoracolumbar kyphosis [TLK]) that evaluate the degree and loss of correction. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of all consecutive patients with nonosteoporotic thoracolumbar burst fractures managed with a six-screw construct in a single university hospital, with more than 2 years' postoperative follow-up. RESULTS: Eighty-six patients met the inclusion criteria, and 72 (83.7%) with available data were ultimately included in the study. The sample included 53 men and 19 women, with a mean (standard deviation [SD]) age of 35.6 years (14.4 years) at the time of surgery. Mean LSC score was 6.3 (SD 1.6, range 3-9). Forty-four of 62 (70.9) fractures had a score greater than 6. Mean (SD) RK and TLK deteriorated significantly during the first 6 months of follow-up: 2.90° (4.54°) p=.005 and 2.78° (6.45°) p=.069, respectively. Surgical correction correlated significantly (r=0.521, p<.0001) with the time elapsed until surgery. Loss of surgical correction (postoperative to 6-month RK and TLK increase) correlated significantly with the LSC score (r=0.57, p=.004; r=0.51, p=.022, respectively). Further surgery because of correction loss was not required in any case. CONCLUSIONS: The six-screw construct is effective for treating thoracolumbar junction burst fractures. The medium-to-long-term loss of correction is affected by the amount of bony comminution of the fracture, objectified through the LSC score.

[Study on the improvement of trauma patient care: TRAUMACAT project]. / Estudio para la mejoría de la atención hospitalaria inicial del paciente politraumatizado: proyecto TRAUMACAT.

UNLABELLED: Multiple injuries are a major source of morbidity and mortality in young people. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a collaborative strategy to improve the implementation of six clinical indicators, recognized internationally, for the treatment of trauma patient. Prospective, multicentre, pre-and post-intervention study, in ten referral hospitals, offering polytrauma care in Catalonia. 378 patients were recruited for the pre-intervention study and 501 for the post-intervention study. All patients had a history of high-energy trauma requiring admission to critical or semi-critical care unit. INTERVENTION: collaborative strategy aimed at participating professionals, involving the creation of a panel of experts, appointment of monitors to encourage improvements at each centre, training, distribution of information, material and meetings, to exchange impressions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: frequency and characteristics of trauma and percentage of compliance with clinical indicators. Study of 879 trauma patients. The injury mechanism was overall blunt trauma, in both pre and post intervention phases. The medium ISS (injury severity score) was 21 ± 12,8 and the medium TRISS (trauma and injury severity score) was 26,4 ± 11,4. We didn't find differences between both study phases, in relation to the severity of injury. The mortality rate was 11.5%. We observed significant improvement in the performance of chest X-rays (45% vs. 62%) and pelvis X-rays (27% vs. 62%) in the trauma box and in the fixation of the pelvis in patients with a fracture at this site (24% vs. 49%). The use of diagnostic radiology in hemodynamically unstable patients remained low (33%). The collaborative strategy was effective in improving certain indicators of clinical management.

Estudio para la mejoría de la atención hospitalaria inicial del paciente politraumatizado: proyecto TRAUMACAT / Study on the improvement of trauma patient care: TRAUMACAT project

Los politraumatismos constituyen una importante causa de morbimortalidad en la población joven. El objetivo del estudio fue recoger y analizar el efecto de una estrategia de carácter colaborativo para mejorar la aplicación de 6 indicadores clínicos reconocidos a nivel internacional como imprescindibles en el correcto tratamiento de los pacientes politraumatizados. Estudio prospectivo multicéntrico pre y postintervención en 10 hospitales de referencia en la atención de pacientes politraumatizados de Catalunya. Se reclutaron respectivamente 378 y 501 pacientes en el período pre y postintervención. Para ser incluidos debían tener antecedentes de un traumatismo de alta energía, siendo preciso su ingreso en una unidad de críticos o semicríticos. Intervención: estrategia colaborativa dirigida a profesionales de los hospitales participantes, que incluyó la constitución de un grupo de expertos, asignación de responsables para incentivar mejoras en cada centro, formación, distribución de material informativo y reuniones para intercambio de experiencias. Principales medidas de resultado: frecuencia y características del politraumatismo y porcentaje en el cumplimiento de indicadores clínicos. Análisis de 879 pacientes politraumatizados. Los mecanismos de lesión fueron mayoritariamente causados por trauma cerrado en ambas fases del estudio. El ISS (injury severity score) medio global de toda la muestra fue de 21 ± 12,8 y el TRISS (trauma and injury severity score) medio global de la serie del 26,4 ± 11,4. No hubo diferencias en cuanto a la gravedad entre los 2 períodos del estudio. La mortalidad global de la muestra fue del 11,5%. En cuanto a los indicadores clínicos, se identificaron mejoras significativas en los períodos pre y postintervención en la realización de radiografías de tórax (el 45 frente al 62%) y de pelvis (el 27 frente al 62%) en cubículo de trauma y en la fijación de la pelvis en pacientes con fractura a este nivel (el 24 frente al 49%). En el traslado de pacientes hemodinámicamente inestables a radiología diagnóstica no se observaron cambios, manteniéndose valores de cumplimiento bajos (33%). La estrategia colaborativa ha sido efectiva para mejorar algunos indicadores de manejo clínico (AU)

Multiple injuries are a major source of morbidity and mortality in young people. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a collaborative strategy to improve the implementation of six clinical indicators, recognized internationally, for the treatment of trauma patient. Prospective, multicentre, pre-and post-intervention study, in ten referral hospitals, offering polytrauma care in Catalonia. 378 patients were recruited for the pre-intervention study and 501 for the post-intervention study. All patients had a history of high-energy trauma requiring admission to critical or semi-critical care unit. Intervention: collaborative strategy aimed at participating professionals, involving the creation of a panel of experts, appointment of monitors to encourage improvements at each centre, training, distribution of information, material and meetings, to exchange impressions. Main outcome measures: frequency and characteristics of trauma and percentage of compliance with clinical indicators. Study of 879 trauma patients. The injury mechanism was overall blunt trauma, in both pre and post intervention phases. The medium ISS (injury severity score) was 21 ± 12,8 and the medium TRISS (trauma and injury severity score) was 26,4 ± 11,4. We didn't find differences between both study phases, in relation to the severity of injury. The mortality rate was 11.5%. We observed significant improvement in the performance of chest X-rays (45% vs. 62%) and pelvis X-rays (27% vs. 62%) in the trauma box and in the fixation of the pelvis in patients with a fracture at this site (24% vs. 49%). The use of diagnostic radiology in hemodynamically unstable patients remained low (33%). The collaborative strategy was effective in improving certain indicators of clinical management (AU)

Industrially prefabricated cement spacers: do vancomycin- and gentamicin-impregnated spacers offer any advantage?

BACKGROUND: Industrially preformed antibiotic-loaded cement spacers are useful to facilitate the second stage of two-stage exchange arthroplasty for infected THAs and TKAs. However, whether gentamicin alone or a combination of antibiotics (such as vancomycin and gentamicin) is more effective is not known. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: We therefore sought to compare industrially prefabricated spacers containing either gentamicin or gentamicin and vancomycin with respect to (1) infection control, (2) complications, and (3) quality of life, pain, and patient satisfaction. METHODS: We performed a review of 51 patients with chronic infections treated at one center using either gentamicin or vancomycin and gentamicin-prefabricated spacers. The former were used exclusively from January 2006 until May 2009, and the latter from June 2009 until July 2011, and there was no overlap. We collected data on demographics, immunologic status (McPherson classification), prosthetic joint infection location, type of prosthesis, microbiologic results, and time between stages. We evaluated the primary outcome of infection control or recurrence after at least 12 months followup. We also recorded complications. Each patient completed a quality-of-life survey, VAS, and a self-administered satisfaction scale. RESULTS: The overall infection control rate was 83% after a mean followup of 35 months (range, 12.4-64.7 months). There were no differences between gentamicin and vancomycin and gentamicin spacers in terms of infection eradication (80 % versus 85 %, respectively; p = 0.73), nor in terms of complications, quality of life, pain, or satisfaction scores. CONCLUSIONS: Prefabricated, antibiotic-loaded cement spacers has been proven effective for infection control in TKAs and THAs but with the numbers available, we did not find any differences between a gentamicin or vancomycin and gentamicin-prefabricated spacer, and therefore, we are unable to validate the superiority of the combination of vancomycin and gentamicin over gentamicin alone. Because of the higher costs involved with vancomycin and gentamicin spacers, and the potential risks of unselective use of vancomycin, further comparative studies are necessary to evaluate their role in the treatment of infected THAs or TKAs. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, therapeutic study. See the Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Retrospective study of scapular notches in reverse shoulder arthroplasties.

We conducted a retrospective study of 36 patients with reverse shoulder prostheses to assess whether placement of the glenoid component affected development of scapular notches. Minimum follow-up was 2 years. Glenosphere position and its relation to scapular notching was analyzed radiographically. The glenosphere overhung the inferior glenoid rim in 19 cases (52.8%) and was flush with the rim in the other 17 cases (47.2%). A scapular notch developed in 13 (36.1%) of the 36 cases. The notch developed in 8 (42.1%) of the 19 cases in which the glenosphere overhung the inferior rim, and in 5 (29.4%) of the 17 cases in which the glenosphere was flush with the rim. There were no significant differences (P = .601) between the 2 groups (overhanging vs flush glenoid component) with respect to development of scapular notching. Preoperative and postoperative Constant-Murley Shoulder Outcome scores were 19.42 and 49.21 for the group with scapular notches, and 25.09 and 51.96 for the group without notches. From a clinical viewpoint, there were no significant differences in scapular notch development and functional Constant-Murley Shoulder Outcome scores between glenospheres overhanging the glenoid rim and glenospheres flush with the glenoid rim.

Fracture of the anteromedial tibial plateau associated with posterolateral complex injury: case study and literature review.

We report an unusual case of anteromedial tibial plateau compression fracture following hyperextension and forced varus of the knee, resulting in an anterior bone fragment large enough to require osteosynthesis. This uncommon lesion was associated with posterolateral complex injury, diagnosed with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), while both cruciate ligaments were preserved. After proceeding with tibial plateau osteosynthesis, a peroneal tendon allograft was used for supplementation repair of the lateral collateral ligament and biceps tendon in a single surgical intervention. Tibial plateau fractures are often associated with soft-tissue involvement, mainly of the anterior cruciate ligament and external meniscus. Posterolateral complex injuries also occur with a mechanism of forced varus and hyperextension. These lesions require an accurate diagnosis to avoid future knee instability; moreover, adequate treatment in the acute phase provides a better functional outcome. Physicians should suspect associated posterolateral complex injury when an anteromedial tibial plateau fracture is diagnosed. MRI allows adequate diagnosis and permits surgical treatment in one procedure.

Is Routine Postoperative Radiologic Follow-up Justified in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis?

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether routine periodic radiographic examination is worthwhile in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients undergoing instrumented fusion with third-generation implants. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: In common practice, patients who have undergone surgery for idiopathic scoliosis are followed up for a minimum of 2 years by clinical assessment and routine radiographic study at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. The radiation related to these examinations is not negligible. To our knowledge, the use of routine radiographic follow-up after posterior spinal fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis has not been evaluated. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed full-spine X-rays and clinical records from the first 2 postoperative years of 43 patients. We sought any clinical feature (eg, pain, deformity progression, material protrusion) justifying X-ray, and any relevant radiologic finding (eg, loss of correction, instrumentation loosening, junctional kyphosis). RESULTS: Excluding the immediate postoperative films, 14.8% of X-rays were clinically justified, 8.3% were associated with a relevant finding, and 4.3% led to a therapy change. All patients with clinical deformity progression had a relevant X-ray finding. Pain was associated with a relevant finding in 23.5% of cases (positive predictive value, 0.1); 7.4% of films with no clinical justification showed a relevant finding (negative predictive value, 0.86). Lower Risser sign increased the risk of having a relevant radiographic finding (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: With the current use of third-generation implants, routine biplanar postoperative X-rays at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months do not seem to be justified in AIS and should be avoided in mature, asymptomatic patients.

Effects of an educational audiovisual videodisc on patients' pre-operative expectations with total knee arthroplasty: a prospective randomized comparative study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effectiveness of an educational videodisc in modifying pre-operative patients' expectations with total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and to find a biophysical profile of subjects in whom this videodisc could be most effective. It was hypothesized that patients receiving standard information plus additional medical information through audiovisual videodiscs would modify their pre-operative expectations more than those only receiving the standard information through medical interviews. METHODS: Ninety-two patients (age, 50-90 years) with knee osteoarthritis waiting for TKA were randomized into two groups. All patients received general verbal information about this procedure. Forty-two patients (study group) additionally viewed an educational videodisc related to the whole process of TKA, whereas 50 patients did not view it (control group). Patients completed baseline and post-videodisc questionnaires regarding their expected results after TKA. RESULTS: Expectations with TKA were not modified by the audiovisual videodisc, except for knee range of motion and use of stairs. There were no differences in change of expectations between groups depending on demographic, functional, health, emotional, and cognitive variables, except for body mass index. The overall pre-operative, pre-intervention expectations were not modified by the audiovisual videodisc. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these results, the use of this complementary tool may not be systematically recommended. In addition, it was not possible to identify a biophysical profile of patients in whom the intervention could be most effective.

Body composition in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

STUDY DESIGN: A controlled prospective cross-sectional case study. OBJECTIVE: To investigate body mass index (BMI) and corporal composition in girls with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and compare them with a normal population matched by sex and age. There is controversy as to whether there are real anthropometric alterations in patients with AIS. Relative to the weight or the BMI, some studies find differences and other studies do not detect them. AIS and anorexia nervosa (AN) make their debut during adolescence and both may be associated with an alteration of their subjective physical perception. Some authors propose a link between AIS and AN supported both by an alteration of physical perception and lower BMI. No studies on body composition in AIS have been published. METHODS: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patient surgery candidates during 2008 were studied. Body composition was evaluated using the bioelectrical impedance analysis (Bodystat, Isle of Man, UK). A study population of more than 5,000 patients that was published by Kyle et al. (Nutrition 17:534-541, 2001) was chosen as a control (group 1). Another control group (group 2) of healthy volunteers matched by sex and age was selected among a school age and university population in Barcelona, Spain. A variance analysis was used to analyze differences between the mean values of the control group 1, the European control group, and the AIS patient surgery candidates (Epiinfo 6.2001). Comparisons between the AIS patients and control group 2 were performed with the T Student test of unpaired samples using the SPSS 15.0 (Statistical Package Social Science) software. RESULTS: Twenty-seven women with a mean age of 17.4 years. BMI was 18.9 kg/m(2) (SD 1.7; 95 % CI 18.31-19.73). In the variance analysis, a significant difference between AIS and group 1 in BMI was observed (21.0 vs. 18.9, p = 0.000004); fat-free mass (FFM = 42.6 vs. 38.9, p = 0.0000009) and fat mass (FM = 15.6 vs. 13.7, p = 0.03). Significant differences in BMI (22.13 vs. 18.9, p = 0.001; 95 % CI difference 1.85-4.60), fat mass index (FMi = 7.17 vs. 4.97, p = 0.000; 95 % CI difference 1.36-3.05) and fat-free mass index (FFMi = 14.95 vs. 13.09, p = 0.001; 95 % CI difference 0.26-1.86) between AIS and group 2 were also seen. CONCLUSION: The conclusion is that there is a real alteration of body composition in AIS. The BMI, FFMi and FMi are lower than in the general population in the series under study.

Predictors of blood transfusion in patients undergoing elective surgery for degenerative conditions of the spine.

BACKGROUND: The requirement of blood in the surgery of degenerative conditions of lumbar spine is around 10 %. Preoperative autologous blood donation is an effective method that is used in surgeries with an important blood loss. This is an expensive method because of the great number of predonated blood units not used in the postoperative period (around 70 % in our practice). OBJECTIVE: To know the risk factors associated with transfusion in the postoperative period in patients who undergo surgeries of degenerative conditions of the lumbar spine. METHODS: We designed a retrospective study of 142 cases of patients operated for degenerative conditions of the lumbar spine (not including simple disk hernia or adult degenerative scoliosis). RESULTS: Female sex, age >60 years, preoperative ASA score 3 and preoperative hemoglobin ≤136 g/L are the risk factors related to the need of blood transfusion in the postoperative period. After application of a statistical study, female sex and preoperative ASA score 3 were the most important variables to explain transfusional risk. A woman with ASA score 3 has a 61 % foretold probability to be transfused in the postoperative period, while a man with ASA < 3, only 1.1 %. For this reason, application of this method to patients with these risk factors is more cost-effective. CONCLUSIONS: Females, ASA 3, preoperative hemoglobin ≤136 g/L and age older than 60 years increase the risk to be transfused in the postoperative period for degenerative conditions of the spine.

Recurrent adjacent segment disease and cauda equina syndrome.

PURPOSE: A case of cauda equina lesion as a result of recurrent adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) after multiple lumbar fusions is reported. ASD might be a consequence of biomechanical overload or simply a normal degenerative process. The reported clinical relevance of ASD is rather low. We describe an unusual case of cauda equina compression at L1-L2 in a patient who had undergone L2-L4 fusion 8 years previously and 2 decompression-fusion surgeries 16 years before. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 72-year-old man, who had two previous lumbar fusion-decompression procedures, underwent a third lumbar surgery in December 2000 to treat symptomatic spinal canal stenosis associated with L3-L4 pseudoarthrosis. After a symptom-free period of 8 years, the patient experienced low back pain radiating to both legs while standing, associated with saddle sensory disturbances and incontinence. Physical examination ruled out significant motor deficits. Plain radiographs showed solid fusion from L2 to L4, good spinal alignment, and low-grade L1-L2 retrolisthesis. Stainless steel pedicular instrumentation distorted magnetic resonance imaging, preventing adequate spinal canal evaluation. Electromyography demonstrated signs of cauda equina compression (bilateral L3-S2). CT myelography showed a stop at L1-L2, due to a severe spinal canal stenosis. L1-L2 decompression and fusion were performed. RESULTS: After an uneventful surgery with no complications, the symptoms abated and incontinence recovered. CONCLUSIONS: Even if the reported clinical relevance of ASD is very low, fused patients with a constitutional narrow spinal canal are at risk of developing severe neural compression at the level adjacent to the fusion.

The visual analog scale and a five-item verbal rating scale are not interchangeable for back pain assessment in lumbar spine disorders.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study of patients with chronic back pain from lumbar spine disorders. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the degree of interchangeability of a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS) and a 5-point verbal rating scale (VRS) for the assessment of pain intensity. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The fact that VAS and Likert scales are highly intercorrelated does not mean that both types of scales can be used interchangeably. METHODS.: A total of 151 patients (mean age, 52 ± 14.6 years) undergoing elective spine surgery completed a 100-mm VAS and a discrete 5-category VRS corresponding to the first item question of the core set ("How severe was your back pain in the last week?"). Pain intensity on the VAS was rated using the same question than for the VRS. The level of order-consistency (monotonic agreement), disordered pairs (D), percentage of agreement, and systematic disagreement (relative position), and relative concentration ([RC]) were estimated. VAS assessments were transformed into a discrete 5-category, with the cut-off VAS positions being defined by quintiles and equidistantly. RESULTS: For VAS defined equidistantly, monotonic agreement was 0.840, D was 0.080, and the percentage of identical pairs was 53%. The corresponding figures for VAS defined by quintiles were 0.809, 0.096, and 27.8%. Inconsistencies between the VAS and the VRS scales were also demonstrated by the marginal distributions, with PR values of -0.005 (95% confidence interval [CI], -0.011 to -0.002) and RC values of 0.144 (95% CI, 0.137-0.152) for VAS defined equidistantly, and PR values of 0.391 (95% CI, 0.384-0.397) and RC values of 0.265 (95% CI, 0.255-0.275) for VAS defined by quintiles. CONCLUSION: The order-consistency level was low with overlapping of pain records between the 2 scales, indicating that VAS and VRS are not interchangeable and, therefore, a results obtained with the use of each scale cannot be compared.

Microindentation for in vivo measurement of bone tissue mechanical properties in humans.

Bone tissue mechanical properties are deemed a key component of bone strength, but their assessment requires invasive procedures. Here we validate a new instrument, a reference point indentation (RPI) instrument, for measuring these tissue properties in vivo. The RPI instrument performs bone microindentation testing (BMT) by inserting a probe assembly through the skin covering the tibia and, after displacing periosteum, applying 20 indentation cycles at 2 Hz each with a maximum force of 11 N. We assessed 27 women with osteoporosis-related fractures and 8 controls of comparable ages. Measured total indentation distance (46.0 +/- 14 versus 31.7 +/- 3.3 microm, p = .008) and indentation distance increase (18.1 +/- 5.6 versus 12.3 +/- 2.9 microm, p = .008) were significantly greater in fracture patients than in controls. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for the two measurements were 93.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 83.1-100) and 90.3% (95% CI 73.2-100), respectively. Interobserver coefficient of variation ranged from 8.7% to 15.5%, and the procedure was well tolerated. In a separate study of cadaveric human bone samples (n = 5), crack growth toughness and indentation distance increase correlated (r = -0.9036, p = .018), and scanning electron microscope images of cracks induced by indentation and by experimental fractures were similar. We conclude that BMT, by inducing microscopic fractures, directly measures bone mechanical properties at the tissue level. The technique is feasible for use in clinics with good reproducibility. It discriminates precisely between patients with and without fragility fracture and may provide clinicians and researchers with a direct in vivo measurement of bone tissue resistance to fracture.