Surgical Techniques Ensuring Success in Posterior Endoscopic Cervical Foraminotomy and Discectomy at C6-7 in Patients with Prominent Shoulders and Short Necks.

INTRODUCTION: There is a steep learning curve for a successful posterior endoscopic cervical foraminotomy and discectomy (PECFD), an important surgery for cervical foraminal or lateral disc herniation, and cervical radiculopathy due to a small operation field. PECFD becomes even more challenging in patients who have prominent shoulders and/or short necks with C6-7-disc herniation, because of the difficulty to localize C6-7 vertebral structure under fluoroscopy. The study objective is to prove that the PECFD can be performed safely and successfully to C6-7-disc herniation on patients with prominent shoulders and/or short necks following our novel surgical techniques under fluoroscopic guidance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PECFD was performed on a patient who had an extruded foraminal disc herniation at C6-7 on the left with left arm pain and weakness. Due to his prominent shoulders and a short neck, the C6-7 anatomic site was not visible under traditional anterior-posterior (AP) and lateral fluoroscopic views. The authors inserted a reference needle to C4-5 facets between C4 and C5 pedicles under AP and lateral fluoroscopic views. Following the reference needle, the C6-7 facets were easily located with an oblique fluoroscopic view. A large endoscopic cannula was used initially for adequate resection of C6-7 facets, followed by a small cannula for nerve root handling with minimal pressure and discectomy. RESULTS: The novel surgical techniques resulted in a complete resection of the C6-7-disc herniation and resolution of the patient's radiculopathy with no postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: PECFD can be safely and successfully applied for C6-7-disc herniation in patients with prominent shoulders and/or short necks using our novel surgical techniques.

Can the Novel LumboIliac Triangle Technique Based on Biplane Oblique Fluoroscopy Facilitate Transforaminal Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy for Patients with L5-S1 Disc Herniation Combined with High Iliac Crest? Case-Control Study of 100 Patients.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) via the transforaminal approach is difficult at L5-S1 in patients presenting with high iliac crests (HIC). The conventional wisdom is that measurement using lumbar radiography, computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is necessary. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to introduce a lumbo-iliac triangular (LI-Tri) technique based on biplane oblique fluoroscopy and verify whether it facilitated transforaminal PELD for patients with L5-S1 lumbar disc herniation (LDH) combined with HIC. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective analysis. SETTING: All data were from Honghui Hospital in Xi'an. METHODS: One hundred patients with L5-S1 LDH combined with HIC were treated with PELD. The LI-Tri technique was used in the first 50 patients (applied group). The other 50 patients were classified as the nonapplied group, in which the conventional technique was performed. Clinical outcome evaluation included Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores. The intervals of follow-up were scheduled at 1 day and 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed with respect to demographic information (P < .05, respectively). There were 8 patients in the nonapplied group with difficult punctures. Together with the remaining 50 patients, the puncture was successful with the LI-Tri technique. The mean operative duration was shorter in the applied group (55 vs 70 min, P < .01). Compared to the preoperative data, only the back pain VAS and ODI in the nonapplied group were nonsignificantly lower at one day postoperatively (P > .05, respectively). With the exception of the back pain VAS and ODI at one day postoperatively, no significant differences were observed in the 3 parameters at other time points postoperatively between 2 groups (P > .05, respectively). LIMITATIONS: The study is limited by its retrospective, nonrandomized controlled design. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with L5-S1 LDH combined with HIC treated by transforaminal PELD, the LI-Tri technique is simple and effective in preoperative evaluations, locating the skin entry point and guiding the puncture trajectory. Compared to the conventional technique, it shows advantages in terms of reducing intraoperative surgical duration and promoting fast postoperative recovery. KEY WORDS: Endoscopic discectomy, iliac crest, L5-S1 disc, PELD, percutaneous, transforaminal.

Transforaminal Endoscopic Lumbar Decompression for Isthmic Spondylolisthesis: Technique Description and Clinical Outcome.

OBJECTIVES: To describe a transforaminal endoscopic spinal decompression technique for treating adult patients with isthmic spondylolisthesis and report preliminary surgical and radiological results. BACKGROUND: Spondylolisthesis is prevalent in the general population. Surgical approaches for symptomatic spondylolisthesis that is refractory to conservative treatment vary. Direct repair of pars fractures and spinal nerve decompression with or without fusion have been reported with varied clinical results. The de facto gold standard, "fusion," is often associated with high complication rates and costs, and may not be necessary for many patients whose spine is relatively stable. METHODS: Transforaminal endoscopic lumbar decompression (TFELD) was performed to resect fractured bone or bone fragments and inflamed tissue compressing the exiting nerve root in 2 patients with isthmic spondylolisthesis (grade 1 in one patient and grade 2 in another). We describe the technique step-by-step and assess the Oswestry Disability Index and pain scores for back and leg pain before and after surgery. RESULTS: Radiographic images demonstrated spondylolisthesis with L5 pars fracture. The fractured bone and bone fragment were intraoperatively visible in the gap between facets and fractured pars in patients with isthmic spondylolisthesis. The core pathology of the patients was fractured bone and bone fragment coupled with scar or inflamed tissue compressing the exiting L5 nerve roots. After the bone fragments and scar tissue were removed using TFELD, the patients' back and leg pain was significantly reduced, and physical function was restored. CONCLUSION: For patients with spondylolisthesis-associated low back and leg pain without spinal instability, TFELD is a safe and effective surgical treatment option.

Management of Degenerative Spondylolisthesis: Analysis of a Questionnaire Study, Correlation With a National Sample, and Perioperative Outcomes of Treatment Options.

BACKGROUND: Surgical treatment for lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis has been shown to provide better long-term outcomes than conservative treatment. However, there is variation in surgical approaches employed by surgeons. This study investigates current surgical practice patterns and compares perioperative outcomes of 3 common surgical treatments for this pathology. METHODS: A survey was administered to surgeons who attended the Lumbar Spine Research Society (LSRS) meeting in 2014. Data were extracted from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) from 2005 to 2014 to characterize the same responses. The 2 data sets were compared. Perioperative outcomes of those in the ACS-NSQIP posterior fusion subcohorts were characterized and compared. RESULTS: Posterior surgical approaches utilized by surgeons who responded to the LSRS survey were similar to those captured by ACS-NSQIP where 72% of those with degenerative spondylolisthesis were fused. Of those that were fused, 8% had an uninstrumented posterior fusion, 33% had an instrumented posterior fusion, and 59% had an instrumented posterior fusion with interbody. On multivariate analysis, there was no difference in risk of postoperative adverse events, readmission, or length of stay between these 3 common types of fusion. CONCLUSIONS: Practice patterns for the posterior management of lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis were similar between LSRS survey responses and ACS-NSQIP data. The ACS-NSQIP perioperative outcome measures assessed were similar regardless of surgical technique. These findings highlight that cost-benefit considerations and longer-term outcomes have to be the measures by which surgical technique is chosen for degenerative spondylolisthesis.

Knee arthrotomy closure with barbed suture in flexion versus extension: a porcine study.

The purpose of this biomechanical study was to evaluate knee arthrotomy closure with a barbed suture in flexion versus extension. 48 porcine knees were randomized into three groups: full extension, 30° flexion, and 60° flexion. Each knee was then flexed to 90° and then 120°, with failures recorded. Arthrotomy closure in extension had significantly higher failure rates (6/16) upon flexion to 90° compared to arthrotomy closure in either 30° or 60° flexion (0/32) (P = 0.032). Upon ranging from 0° to 120°, arthrotomy failure occurred in 50% (8/16) of arthrotomies in the extension group, 6.25% (1/16) in the 30° flexion group and 18.75% (3/16) in the 60° flexion group (P = 0.022). Knee arthrotomy closure in extension compared to flexion had significantly higher rates of failure.