Unmet Needs of Surgical Care for Children: A Case Study in the Brazilian Publicly-Financed Health System.

Objective To measure and document the clinical impact of the waiting time for surgical treatment of patients with spinal deformities in a quaternary center in Brazil. Methods In total, 59 patients with spinal deformity waiting for surgery on our hospital's list were evaluated to observe the impact of the waiting time on the progression of the deformity. Patient evaluation was performed using the SRS-22r questionnaire for health-related quality of life (HRQL) and radiographic images to evaluate the deformity of the spine at the time the patients were included in the waiting list and at the most recent appointment. The radiographic parameters selected for comparison were: Cobb angle of the primary and secondary curves, coronal alignment, apical vertebral translation, pelvic obliquity, sagittal vertebral axis, kyphosis (T5-T12), and lordosis (L1-S1). Results Low HRQL scores according to the SRS-22r questionnaire were observed in patients waiting for surgery. The radiographic parameters showed progression of the deformity on the initial evaluation when compared with the most recent follow-up evaluation. Conclusion The patients waiting for surgical treatment of spinal deformities in our center showed relatively low HRQL scores and radiographic progression of the deformity.

Unmet Needs of Surgical Care for Children: A Case Study in the Brazilian Publicly-Financed Health System / Necessidades não atendidas de cuidados cirúrgicos para crianças: Estudo de caso no Sistema Único de Saúde financiado pelo governo no Brasil

Abstract Objective To measure and document the clinical impact of the waiting time for surgical treatment of patients with spinal deformities in a quaternary center in Brazil. Methods In total, 59 patients with spinal deformity waiting for surgery on our hospital's list were evaluated to observe the impact of the waiting time on the progression of the deformity. Patient evaluation was performed using the SRS-22r questionnaire for health-related quality of life (HRQL) and radiographic images to evaluate the deformity of the spine at the time the patients were included in the waiting list and at the most recent appointment. The radiographic parameters selected for comparison were: Cobb angle of the primary and secondary curves, coronal alignment, apical vertebral translation, pelvic obliquity, sagittal vertebral axis, kyphosis (T5-T12), and lordosis (L1-S1). Results Low HRQL scores according to the SRS-22r questionnaire were observed in patients waiting for surgery. The radiographic parameters showed progression of the deformity on the initial evaluation when compared with the most recent follow-up evaluation. Conclusion The patients waiting for surgical treatment of spinal deformities in our center showed relatively low HRQL scores and radiographic progression of the deformity.

Resumo Objetivo Medir e documentar o impacto clínico do tempo de espera para tratamento cirúrgico de pacientes com deformidades na coluna vertebral em um centro quaternário no Brasil. Métodos No total, 59 pacientes com deformidade espinhal à espera de cirurgia na lista do nosso hospital foram avaliados para observar o impacto dos tempos de espera na progressão da deformidade. A avaliação do paciente foi realizada utilizando o questionário SRS-22r para qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde (QLRS), e imagens radiográficas para avaliar a deformidade da coluna vertebral quando os pacientes foram incluídos na lista de espera e na consulta mais recente. Os parâmetros radiográficos selecionados para comparação foram: ângulo de Cobb de curvas primárias e secundárias, alinhamento coronal, translação de vértebra apical, obliquidade pélvica, eixo vertebral sagital, cifose (T5-T12), e lordose (L1-S1). Resultados Baixos escores de QLRS segundo o questionário SRS-22r foram observados em pacientes que aguardavam cirurgia. Os parâmetros radiográficos mostraram progressão da deformidade na avaliação inicial em comparação com a avaliação de seguimento mais recente. Conclusão Os pacientes que aguardavam tratamento cirúrgico de deformidade espinhal em nosso centro apresentaram os escores de QLRS relativamente baixos e progressão radiográfica da deformidade.

Community Care Administration of Spinal Deformities in the Brazilian Public Health System.

OBJECTIVE:: Underfunding of the surgical treatment of complex spinal deformities has been an important reason for the steadily growing waiting lists in publicly funded healthcare systems. The aim of this study is to characterize the management of the treatment of spinal deformities in the public healthcare system. METHODS:: A cross-sectional study of 60 patients with complex pediatric spinal deformities waiting for treatment in December 2013 was performed. The evaluated parameters were place of origin, waiting time until first assessment at a specialized spine care center, waiting time for the surgical treatment, and need for implants not reimbursed by the healthcare system. RESULTS:: Ninety-one percent of the patients lived in São Paulo State (33% from Ribeirão Preto - DRS XIII). Patients waited for 0.5 to 48.0 months for referral, and the waiting times for surgery ranged from 2 to 117 months. Forty-five percent of the patients required implants for the surgical procedure that were not available. CONCLUSION:: The current management of patients with spinal deformities in the public healthcare system does not provide adequate treatment for these patients in our region. They experience long waiting periods for referral and prolonged waiting times to receive surgical treatment; additionally, many of the necessary procedures are not reimbursed by the public healthcare system.

Community Care Administration of Spinal Deformities in the Brazilian Public Health System

OBJECTIVE: Underfunding of the surgical treatment of complex spinal deformities has been an important reason for the steadily growing waiting lists in publicly funded healthcare systems. The aim of this study is to characterize the management of the treatment of spinal deformities in the public healthcare system. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 60 patients with complex pediatric spinal deformities waiting for treatment in December 2013 was performed. The evaluated parameters were place of origin, waiting time until first assessment at a specialized spine care center, waiting time for the surgical treatment, and need for implants not reimbursed by the healthcare system. RESULTS: Ninety-one percent of the patients lived in São Paulo State (33% from Ribeirão Preto - DRS XIII). Patients waited for 0.5 to 48.0 months for referral, and the waiting times for surgery ranged from 2 to 117 months. Forty-five percent of the patients required implants for the surgical procedure that were not available. CONCLUSION: The current management of patients with spinal deformities in the public healthcare system does not provide adequate treatment for these patients in our region. They experience long waiting periods for referral and prolonged waiting times to receive surgical treatment; additionally, many of the necessary procedures are not reimbursed by the public healthcare system.

Percutaneous fixation of fractures of the spine: 1-year clinical and radiological follow-up / Fixação percutânea de fraturas da coluna vertebral: seguimento clínico e radiológico de 1 ano / Fijación percutánea de las fracturas vertebrales: seguimiento clínico y radiológico de 1 año

Objective: To evaluate the preliminary results of the surgical treatment through minimally invasive fixation technique in patients with thoracolumbar spinal fractures. Methods: Retrospective study of 17 patients with fractures of thoracolumbar vertebrae who underwent surgery with percutaneous fixation in the period of 2009 to 2011. The clinical evaluation of the results was performed using the SF-36 and Oswestry questionnaires. The radiographic parameters evaluated were: fracture classification according to Magerl's criteria, wedge angle of the fractured vertebrae and bisegmental Cobb angle. These measurements were made in the preoperative, immediate postoperative and 1 year after surgery. Other data such as associated injuries, neurological deficit, post-surgical infection, loosening and breakage of implants were also considered. Results: The data revealed average scores above 80% in all domains of the SF-36 questionnaire while in Oswestry Questionnaire, 79% of patients had minimal or absent physical limitations with a mean score of 12.4±11.89%. The average Cobb angle for preoperative kyphosis was 5.53º±13.80o, 2.18º±13.38o in the early postoperative period and 5.26º±13.95o one year after surgery. The average correction obtained after surgery was 3.35º and the average correction loss was 3.19º. No complications such as post-surgical infection, permanent neurological deficits and implant loosening and breakage were observed. ...

Objetivo: Avaliar os resultados preliminares do tratamento cirúrgico pela técnica de fixação minimamente invasiva em pacientes portadores de fraturas toracolombares da coluna vertebral. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo de 17 pacientes com fraturas de vértebras toracolombares submetidos a tratamento cirúrgico com fixação percutânea no período de 2009 a 2011. A avaliação clínica dos resultados foi realizada através dos questionários SF-36 e Oswestry. Os parâmetros radiográficos avaliados foram: classificação das fraturas segundo critérios de Magerl, ângulo de acunhamento da vértebra fraturada e o ângulo de Cobb bissegmentar do segmento afetado. Estas medidas foram feitas nos períodos pré-operatório, pós-operatório imediato e 1 ano após a cirurgia. Outros dados como lesões associadas, déficit neurológico, infecção pós-cirúrgica, soltura e quebra de implantes também foram considerados. Resultados: Os dados obtidos revelaram médias acima de 80% em todos os domínios do Questionário SF-36 enquanto que no Questionário de Oswestry, 79% dos indivíduos apresentaram limitações físicas mínimas ou ausentes com escore médio de 12,4%±11,89. O valor ...

Objetivo: Evaluar los resultados preliminares de la técnica de tratamiento quirúrgico para la fijación mínimamente invasiva en pacientes con fracturas de la columna toracolumbar. Métodos: Estudio retrospectivo de 17 pacientes con fracturas de vértebras toracolumbares fueron sometidos a cirugía con fijación percutánea en el período de 2009 a 2011. Se realizó la evaluación clínica de los resultados utilizando los cuestionarios SF-36 y Oswestry. Se evaluaron los parámetros radiográficos: clasificación de fracturas según criterios de Magerl, ángulo de acuñamiento de la vértebra fracturada y el ángulo de Cobb bissegmentar del segmento afectado. Estas mediciones se realizaron en el preoperatorio, postoperatorio inmediato y 1 año después de la cirugía. También se consideraron otros datos, tales como lesiones asociadas, déficit neurológico, infección post-quirúrgica y aflojamiento y rotura de los implantes. Resultados: Los datos indican promedios superiores al 80% en todos los dominios del cuestionario SF-36, mientras que en cuestionario Oswestry, el 79% de los pacientes tenían limitaciones físicas mínimas o ausentes con una puntuación media de 12,4±11,89%. El ángulo de Cobb preoperatorio promedio fue 5,53º&...

Results of kyphoplasty in the minimally invasive treatment of vertebral metastasis / Resultado da cifoplastia no tratamento minimamente invasivo das metástases vertebrais / Resultado de la cifoplastia en el tratamiento mínimamente invasivo de las metástasis vertebrales

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical and radiological outcome of minimally invasive surgical treatment of vertebral metastases using the technique of kyphoplasty. METHODS: This was a prospective observational study of patients with the diagnosis of spinal metastasis who underwent minimally invasive surgical treatment by filling the vertebral body with balloon kyphoplasty technique. Clinical evaluation included patient age at surgery, diagnosis of the tumor, biopsy results, data of the surgical procedure performed, visual pain scale (VAS) and complications related to surgery. Radiological evaluation involved the study of radiographic procedures in the anteroposterior and lateral incidences, with the analysis of vertebral body kyphosis and the occurrence of extravasation of cement. RESULTS: 22 patients with spinal metastases who were treated by balloon kyphoplasty, 8 (36%) males and 14 (64%) females were studied. The average age was 56.05 years and the mean follow-up was 8.5 months. The mean preoperative VAS was 8.73, 1.73 in the initial postoperative period, and 1.92 in the late postoperative period. CONCLUSION: Kyphoplasty proved to be a safe and effective technique for symptomatic treatment of vertebral metastases. .

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o resultado clínico e radiológico do tratamento cirúrgico minimamente invasivo das metástases vertebrais por meio da técnica de cifoplastia. MÉTODOS: Este é um estudo observacional prospectivo de pacientes com diagnóstico de metástase vertebral, que foram submetidos ao tratamento cirúrgico minimamente invasivo por meio de preenchimento do corpo vertebral com a técnica de cifoplastia com balão. A avaliação clínica incluiu a idade do paciente no momento da cirurgia, o diagnóstico do tumor, os resultados das biópsias, os dados do procedimento cirúrgico realizado, a escala visual de dor (EVA) e as complicações relacionadas à cirurgia. A avaliação radiológica envolveu o estudo dos exames radiográficos nas incidências anteroposterior e lateral, com a análise da cifose do corpo vertebral e a ocorrência de extravasamento do cimento. RESULTADOS: Foram estudados 22 pacientes portadores de metástase vertebral que foram tratados por meio de cifoplastia com balão, sendo 8 (36%) do sexo masculino e 14 (64%) do sexo feminino. A média de idade foi de 56,05 anos e o tempo médio de seguimento, 8,5 meses. A média da EVA pré-operatória foi de 8,73, no pós-operatório inicial, de 1,73 e no pós-operatório tardio, de 1,92. CONCLUSÃO: a cifoplastia mostrou-se uma técnica segura e efetiva para o tratamento sintomático das metástases vertebrais. .

OBJETIVO: Evaluar el resultado clínico y radiológico del tratamiento quirúrgico mínimamente invasivo de las metástasis vertebrales utilizando la técnica de cifoplastia. MÉTODOS: Se trata de un estudio observacional prospectivo de los pacientes con el diagnóstico de metástasis vertebral que se sometieron a tratamiento quirúrgico mínimamente invasivo mediante el llenado del cuerpo vertebral con la técnica de cifoplastia con balón. La evaluación clínica incluyó la edad del paciente en la cirugía, el diagnóstico del tumor, los resultados de la biopsia, los datos del procedimiento quirúrgico realizado, la escala visual de dolor (EVA) y las complicaciones relacionadas con la cirugía. La evaluación radiológica implicó el estudio de exámenes radiográficos en las incidencias anteroposterior y lateral, con el análisis de la cifosis del cuerpo vertebral y la ocurrencia de la extravasación del cemento. RESULTADOS: 22 pacientes con metástasis vertebrales que fueron tratados con cifoplastia con balón, siendo 8 (36%) hombres y 14 (64%) mujeres. La edad promedio fue de 56,05 años y la media de seguimiento fue de 8,5 meses. La media preoperatoria de la EVA fue 8,73, la postoperatoria inicial fue de 1,73 y la postoperatoria tardía fue 1,92. CONCLUSIÓN: La cifoplastia ha demostrado ser una técnica segura y eficaz para el tratamiento sintomático de las metástasis vertebrales. .