Effect of COVID-19 on quality of life of persons aged >70 years with adult spinal deformity: A cross-sectional case-control study.

This observational, cross-sectional case-control study evaluates the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in elderly persons who have undergone surgery for adult spinal deformity (ASD). On December 31, 2019, the Chinese authorities first reported severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, and on March 11, 2020, it was declared a pandemic. The pandemic seems to have had a negative effect on elderly patients who underwent ASD, in terms of functional and psychological quality of life. We selected patients with ASD aged > 70 years who had undergone surgery between 2010 and 2015 and compared them with age- and sex-matched patients who did not have ASD. We recorded sociodemographic variables, type of surgery, levels of spinal fusion, HRQoL (Scoliosis Research Society-22, Short Form 12 Health Survey, EuroQol-5D [EQ-5], Geriatric Depression Scale [Yesavage] [GDS], Modified Frailty Index-11, and Barthel index), fear of visiting a health center, fear of leaving one's house, and adherence to preventive measures. The study population comprised 174 patients (mean [standard deviation] age, 77.3 [5.9] years; 86% women), of whom 87 had undergone surgery for ASD. The incidence of COVID-19 was higher in patients aged > 85 years (P = .041), urban areas (P = .047), and in patients in long-term care (P = .03). Similarly, no differences were observed for the ability to cope with the pandemic (P > .05). Patients who underwent surgery also had a higher risk of depression (GDS, 6.7 [P = .02]), a lower EQ-5 score (P = .001), a higher body mass index (P = .004), greater consumption of drugs (P < .001), especially opiates (P < .001). Patients who underwent surgery constitute a vulnerable population during the COVID-19 pandemic, with poorer quality of life and had a much higher risk of depression. They are also polymedicated and prefrail, adhere well to COVID-19 preventive measures, and do not seem to fear visiting health centers.

Comparative study on the treatment of disc herniations / Estudio comparativo del tratamiento de las hernias discales / Estudo comparativo de tratamento de hérnias de disco

ABSTRACT Objective: To compare the results of treatment of patients with low back pain and radiculalgia resulting from disc herniation associated with disc degeneration through instrumentation with pedicle screws and dynamic rod, with root release and without diskectomy compared with other non-instrumented techniques (microdiskectomy with or without foraminotomy). Methods: This is a retrospective descriptive study of interventions for patients with herniated discs in the Traumatology and Neurosurgery that used the following variables: age, sex, type of technique, surgical time, time of evolution, degree of satisfaction, and complications. Two groups were formed: instrumentation with dynamic rods and non-instrumented techniques, comparing the results of each group. The software used was the SPSS v20.0. Results: We presented 142 interventions carried out between 2009 and 2012, 86 with dynamic instrumentation and 56 by other decompression techniques without instrumentation. No statistically significant differences were observed between age and sex groups and time elapsed until intervention. We found statistically significant differences (p=0.001) in surgical time, which was lower in the instrumented technique. No significant differences were found in complications between the techniques in both re-operations and in infections. Conclusions: In this study, we found no significant differences between the use of instrumentation with dynamic rods with respect to other non-instrumented surgical techniques in the treatment of herniated discs over 6 months of evolution or the complications and the degree of the patients' satisfaction.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Comparar los resultados del tratamiento de pacientes con lumbalgia y radiculalgia secundaria a hernia discal asociada a degeneración del disco, mediante la instrumentación con tornillos pediculares y barra dinámica, liberando la raíz sin discectomía frente a otras técnicas no instrumentadas (microdiscectomía con o sin foraminotomía). Métodos: Se ha realizado un estudio descriptivo retrospectivo de las intervenciones realizadas en pacientes con hernias discales por los servicios de Traumatología y Neurocirugía, recogiendo las siguientes variables: edad, sexo, tipo de técnica, tiempo de intervención, tiempo de evolución, grado de satisfacción y complicaciones. Se constituyeron dos grupos: instrumentación con barras dinámicas y técnicas no instrumentadas, comparando los resultados de cada grupo. Se utilizó el software SPSS v20.0. Resultados: Presentamos 142 intervenciones realizadas entre 2009 y 2012, 86 mediante instrumentación dinámica y 56 por técnicas de descompresión sin instrumentación. No se observaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los grupos respecto a edad, sexo, ni tiempo de evolución hasta la intervención. Se observaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas (p = 0,001) en el tiempo de intervención, siendo menor en la técnica instrumentada. Respecto a las complicaciones de las técnicas no se hallaron diferencias significativas ni en las reintervenciones ni en las infecciones. Conclusiones: No encontramos diferencias significativas entre la utilización de instrumentación con barras dinámicas frente a otras técnicas quirúrgicas no instrumentadas en el tratamiento de las hernias discales de más de 6 meses de evolución, ni respecto a las complicaciones y ni al grado de satisfacción de los pacientes.

RESUMO Objetivo: Comparar os resultados do tratamento de pacientes com dor lombar e radiculalgia decorrente de hérnia de disco associada à degeneração do disco, por meio de instrumentação com parafusos pediculares e barra dinâmica com liberação da raiz sem discotomia em comparação com outras técnicas não instrumentadas (microdiscotomia com ou sem foraminotomia). Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo retrospectivo e descritivo de intervenções realizadas em pacientes com hérnia de disco nos serviços de Traumatologia e Neurocirurgia, empregando-se as seguintes variáveis: idade, sexo, tipo de técnica, tempo de cirurgia, tempo de evolução, grau de satisfação e complicações. Foram formados dois grupos: instrumentação com barras dinâmicas e técnicas não instrumentadas, comparando os resultados de cada grupo. O software utilizado foi o SPSS v20.0. Resultados: Apresentamos 142 intervenções realizadas entre 2009 e 2012, 86 por instrumentação dinâmica e 56 por técnicas de descompressão sem instrumentação. Não foram observadas diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre os grupos de idade, sexo e tempo de evolução até a intervenção. Constataram-se diferenças estatisticamente significativas quanto ao tempo cirúrgico (p = 0,001), sendo menor na técnica instrumentada. Com relação às complicações das técnicas, não houve diferença significativa nas re-operações nem nas infecções. Conclusões: Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre o uso de instrumentação com barras dinâmicas com respeito a outras técnicas cirúrgicas não instrumentadas no tratamento da hérnia de disco com mais de 6 meses de evolução nem a complicações e ao grau de satisfação dos pacientes.