Aprendizaje basado en la simulación: valoración de los objetivos docentes en un programa de abdomen agudo y oclusión intestinal en cirugía general / Simulation-based learning: assessment of the teaching objectives in a program of acute abdomen and intestinal occlusion in general surgery, in medicine degree students

Introducción y objetivo: Analizar el logro de los objetivos docentes desarrollados durante el escenario de los casos de simulación a través de la valoración del profesor, los participantes observadores y quien realiza la propia simulación. Sujetos y métodos: Estudio observacional, prospectivo, descriptivo y unicéntrico, realizado con estudiantes de tercer curso de Medicina de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Se evalúan los objetivos docentes para cada caso clínico simulado por parte de los estudiantes que realizan la simulación, los observadores y el profesor. La evaluación numérica sigue una escala de tipo escala visual analógica y la categórica los clasifica en conseguidos, parcialmente conseguidos y no conseguidos. El estado nervioso y la comodidad de los alumnos también se evalúan numéricamente. Resultados: Se ha registrado la valoración de los objetivos de 929 participantes. La evaluación de los objetivos tiene un valor medio superior a 7 para cada uno de ellos. Existe una diferencia de 1,5-2 puntos en la valoración media entre el primer caso y el último, y no hay ningún alumno que no consiga los objetivos en el último caso. Se describe un estado de nervios alrededor de 4,5 y de comodidad alrededor de 7, sin diferencias entre los distintos evaluadores. Conclusiones: El logro de los objetivos se consigue de forma notable. Entre el primer caso y el último existe una significativa diferencia en el grado de obtención de los objetivos. No hay una relación entre el estado emocional de los participantes y la consecución de los objetivos.(AU)

Introduction and aim: To analyze the achievement of the educational objectives developed during the scenario of the simulation cases through the assessment of the teacher, the observer participants and the person who performs the simulation itself. Subjects and methods: Observational, prospective, descriptive and single-center study, carried out with 3rd year Medicine students at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. The teaching objectives for each simulated clinical case are evaluated by the students who carry out the simulation, the observers and the teacher. The numerical evaluation follows a VAS-type scale and the categorical one classifies them as achieved, partially achieved and not achieved. The nervous state and comfort of the students are also evaluated numerically. Results: The evaluation of the objectives of 929 participants has been registered. The evaluation of the objectives has an average value greater than 7 for each one of them. There is a difference of 1.5-2 points in the average assessment between the first case and the last, with no student not achieving the objectives in the last case. A state of nerves around 4.5 and comfort around 7 is described, with no differences between the different evaluators. Conclusions: The achievement of the objectives is achieved in a remarkable way. Between the first case and the last, there is a significant difference in the degree of achievement of the objectives. There is no relationship between the emotional state of the participants and the achievement of the objectives.(AU)

Light-Activated Chemically Reactive Fibrous Patch Revolutionizes Wound Repair Through the Prevention of Postoperative Adhesion.

A light-activated chemically reactive fibrous patch (ChemPatch) with tissue adhesion and wound healing activity was developed for preventing postoperative peritoneal adhesion. ChemPatch was constructed by an integrative electrospinning fabrication strategy, generating multifunctional PCL-NHS fibers encapsulating antioxidant curcumin and MnO2 nanoparticles. ChemPatch exhibited excellent photothermal conversion, which not only reformed the physical state to match the tissue but also improved conjugation between ChemPatch and tissues, allowing for strong attachment. Importantly, ChemPatch possessed good antioxidant and radical scavenging activity, which protected cells in an oxidative microenvironment and improved tissue regeneration. Particularly, ChemPatch acted as a multifunctional barrier and could not only promote reepithelialization and revascularization in wound defect model but simultaneously ameliorate inflammation and prevent postoperative peritoneal adhesion in a mouse cecal defect model. Thus, ChemPatch represents a dual-active bioadhesive barrier for reducing the incidence and severity of peritoneal adhesions.

InCISE: Instrument for Comprehensive Incisional and Surgical Evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: The evaluation of healing after head and neck surgery is currently qualitative and non-standardized, limiting the quality of surgical healing assessments in clinical and research settings. We sought to develop an objective, standardized wound assessment score, and hypothesize that a reliable instrument can be developed to evaluate head and neck surgical wounds. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted in a tertiary-care, academic head and neck surgery practice. Patients undergoing head and neck surgery were enrolled. A digital photograph protocol was developed for evaluating healing surgical wounds. A panel of experts developed and refined a wound healing score and established reliability, reproducibility, internal consistency, and validity of the score. RESULTS: InCISE: Instrument for comprehensive incisional and surgical evaluation was created. The utility of our wound healing score was assessed using classical test theory. We performed the major steps of establishing reliability in head and neck surgeons: (1) internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.81), (2) inter-observer reliability (intra-class correlation = 0.76), and (3) intra-rater reliability (intra-class correlation = 0.87), and content validity (through focus groups). Our composite measure was found to have strong internal consistency, inter-rater reliability, and intra-rater reliability. Preliminary work suggests criterion validity via associations with physical health related quality of life (SF-12). CONCLUSION: A wound healing score for head and neck surgery, InCISE, has been developed and is reliable, reproducible, and consistent. Although content validity is present and criterion validity is suggested, work continues to establish validity in this instrument to allow for expanded clinical and research use. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA Laryngoscope, 133:2166-2173, 2023.

The Value of Scientific Publications in Surgical Device Innovation.

BACKGROUND: Clinical trials represent a significant risk in the commercialization of surgical technologies. There is incentive for companies to mitigate their regulatory risk by targeting 510K over Premarket Approval (PMA) pathways in order to limit the scope, complexity and cost of clinical trials. As such, not all companies will publish clinical data in the scientific literature. PURPOSE: We set out to investigate the relationship between scientific publication by surgical device companies and the impact it has on company valuation. We hypothesize that publishing in the scientific literature correlates with success of the surgical device companies as measured by funding. RESEARCH DESIGN: We first obtained a list of surgical device startup companies and their financial deals using the Pitchbook database. Those companies were then cross referenced with the FDA database and the Dimensions database for product registrations and peer reviewed publications, respectively. Analysis was then performed using these query results. STUDY SAMPLE AND DATA COLLECTION: We obtained a list of US surgical device startups financing deals closed between 2010 and 2020 from the Pitchbook database. We queried the Pitchbook for deal dates from January 1, 2010 to January 1, 2020 for deal types spanning early stage investment to IPO. Deals were limited to those conducted in the United States and to the surgical device industry. We queried the FDA database for product registration information associated with each of the companies involved in the deals. We tabulated the number of journal articles associated with surgical device companies using the Dimensions Search API as well as a manual confirmation. RESULTS: Five hundred thirty five (535) deals from 222 companies were found in Pitchbook that met our criteria. Querying the FDA database resulted in 578 registrations associated with these companies. Publications per company ranged widely. CONCLUSIONS: Companies that are able to generate a more numerous publications had correspondingly higher valuations during funding rounds. A subset of outstanding companies were analyzed and at least four factors affect: direct value of publications, indirect valve of publications, survivorship bias, and adoption share; each of which will be discussed in this manuscript.

Rastreamento da hipersensibilidade metálica pelos profissionais e estudantes de saúde na prática clínico-cirúrgica / Seguimiento de la hipersensibilidad metálica por profesionales y estudiantes de salud en la práctica clínico-quirúrgica / Screening of metallic hypersensitivity by health professionals and students in clinical-surgical practice

Objetivo: investigar o rastreamento da hipersensibilidade metálica realizada pelos profissionais e estudantes de saúde durante a prática clínico-cirúrgico. Método: estudo exploratório-descritivo realizado com 228 profissionais e estudantes da área da saúde, por meio de questionário eletrônico semiestruturado, aplicado durante abril e maio de 2021, analisado por meio da estatística descritiva e da frequência de palavras. Resultados: 11,0% dos participantes realizaram a investigação sobre a hipersensibilidade metálica. 67,1% declararam que muito provavelmente poderiam incluir essa temática durante a triagem em seus atendimentos. Falta de conhecimento sobre alergia a metais e causas multifatoriais durante a prática clínico-cirúrgica foram citadas como barreiras para a implementação do rastreamento da hipersensibilidade metálica. Conclusão: pouco se evidencia o rastreamento da hipersensibilidade metálica em pacientes durante a prática clínico-cirúrgica dos profissionais e estudantes de saúde.

Objetivo: investigar el rastreo de la hipersensibilidad metálica realizada por los profesionales y estudiantes de salud durante la práctica clínico-quirúrgica. Método: estudio exploratorio-descriptivo realizado con 228 profesionales y estudiantes del área de la salud, por medio de cuestionario electrónico semiestructurado, aplicado durante abril y mayo de 2021, analizado por medio de la estadística descriptiva y de la frecuencia de palabras. Resultados: 11,0% de los participantes realizaron la investigación sobre la hipersensibilidad metálica. El 67,1% declaró que muy probablemente podrían incluir esa temática durante la selección en sus atenciones. La falta de conocimientos sobre la alergia a los metales y las causas multifactoriales durante la práctica clínico-quirúrgica se citaron como barreras para la implementación del seguimiento de la hipersensibilidad metálica. Conclusión: poco se evidencia el rastreo de la hipersensibilidad metálica en pacientes durante la práctica clínico-quirúrgica de los profesionales y estudiantes de salud.

Objective to investigate the screening of metallic hypersensitivity performed by health professionals and students during clinical-surgical practice. Method: an exploratory-descriptive study conducted with 228 health professionals and students, through a semi-structured electronic questionnaire, applied during April and May 2021, analyzed through descriptive statistics and the frequency of words. Results: 11.0% of participants conducted research on metallic hypersensitivity. 67.1% stated that they could very likely include this theme during screening in their care. Lack of knowledge about metal allergy and multifactorial causes during clinical-surgical practice were cited as barriers to the implementation of metallic hypersensitivity screening. Conclusion: there is little evidence of metallic hypersensitivity screening in patients during the clinical-surgical practice of health professionals and students.

Assessing the efficacy of tablet-based simulations for learning pseudo-surgical instrumentation.

Nurses and surgeons must identify and handle specialized instruments with high temporal and spatial precision. It is crucial that they are trained effectively. Traditional training methods include supervised practices and text-based study, which may expose patients to undue risk during practice procedures and lack motor/haptic training respectively. Tablet-based simulations have been proposed to mediate some of these limitations. We implemented a learning task that simulates surgical instrumentation nomenclature encountered by novice perioperative nurses. Learning was assessed following training in three distinct conditions: tablet-based simulations, text-based study, and real-world practice. Immediately following a 30-minute training period, instrument identification was performed with comparable accuracy and response times following tablet-based versus text-based training, with both being inferior to real-world practice. Following a week without practice, response times were equivalent between real-world and tablet-based practice. While tablet-based training does not achieve equivalent results in instrument identification accuracy as real-world practice, more practice repetitions in simulated environments may help reduce performance decline. This project has established a technological framework to assess how we can implement simulated educational environments in a maximally beneficial manner.

A Novel University of North Carolina Laparoscopic Ventral Hernia Repair Simulator.

Background: Simulation plays an important role in surgical training. We developed a simulator for laparoscopic ventral hernia repair (LVHR) surgery based on porcine tissue, characterized by low cost and high reality. Methods: Our LVHR model is based on porcine tissue mounted in a human mannequin. The anterior abdominal wall is constructed to allow laparoscopic training. Training sessions are conducted in a simulated operating room environment. Results: During preliminary tests, the LVHR simulator was found to be highly realistic in terms of tissue feedback, instrumentation usage, and performing the key steps of the LVHR procedure. The model was evaluated as a very useful tool for residents' training allowing to gain laparoscopic skills, learn the key steps of LVHR, and practice team work. Conclusions: Our simulator, based on porcine tissue mounted in a mannequin, offers a very realistic and cost-effective model for simulating LVHR surgery.

Accurate and interpretable evaluation of surgical skills from kinematic data using fully convolutional neural networks.

PURPOSE: Manual feedback from senior surgeons observing less experienced trainees is a laborious task that is very expensive, time-consuming and prone to subjectivity. With the number of surgical procedures increasing annually, there is an unprecedented need to provide an accurate, objective and automatic evaluation of trainees' surgical skills in order to improve surgical practice. METHODS: In this paper, we designed a convolutional neural network (CNN) to classify surgical skills by extracting latent patterns in the trainees' motions performed during robotic surgery. The method is validated on the JIGSAWS dataset for two surgical skills evaluation tasks: classification and regression. RESULTS: Our results show that deep neural networks constitute robust machine learning models that are able to reach new competitive state-of-the-art performance on the JIGSAWS dataset. While we leveraged from CNNs' efficiency, we were able to minimize its black-box effect using the class activation map technique. CONCLUSIONS: This characteristic allowed our method to automatically pinpoint which parts of the surgery influenced the skill evaluation the most, thus allowing us to explain a surgical skill classification and provide surgeons with a novel personalized feedback technique. We believe this type of interpretable machine learning model could integrate within "Operation Room 2.0" and support novice surgeons in improving their skills to eventually become experts.

Comparison of Personal Video Technology for Teaching and Assessment of Surgical Skills.

BACKGROUND: Improvements in personal technology have made video recording for teaching and assessment of surgical skills possible. OBJECTIVE: This study compared 5 personal video-recording devices based on their utility (image quality, hardware, mounting options, and accessibility) in recording open surgical procedures. METHODS: Open procedures in a simulated setting were recorded using smartphones and tablets (MOB), laptops (LAP), sports cameras such as GoPro (SC), single-lens reflex cameras (DSLR), and spy camera glasses (SPY). Utility was rated by consensus between 2 investigators trained in observation of technology using a 5-point Likert scale (1, poor, to 5, excellent). RESULTS: A total of 150 hours of muted video were reviewed with a minimum 1 hour for each device. Image quality was good (3.8) across all devices, although this was influenced by the device-mounting requirements (4.2) and its proximity to the area of interest. Device hardware (battery life and storage capacity) was problematic for long procedures (3.8). Availability of devices was high (4.2). CONCLUSIONS: Personal video-recording technology can be used for assessment and teaching of open surgical skills. DSLR and SC provide the best images. DSLR provides the best zoom capability from an offset position, while SC can be placed closer to the operative field without impairing sterility. Laptops provide best overall utility for long procedures due to video file size. All devices require stable recording platforms (eg, bench space, dedicated mounting accessories). Head harnesses (SC, SPY) provide opportunities for "point-of-view" recordings. MOB and LAP can be used for multiple concurrent recordings.

Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy with the Stag Beetle Knife (SB Knife): Feasibility and Follow-Up.

BACKGROUND Recently, a stag beetle (SB) knife was introduced to reduce the difficulty of peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM). The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the SB knife. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 71 patients undergoing POEM with the SB knife for esophageal achalasia were included. We used esophagography, manometry, esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), and Eckardt score to assess the utility and safety. RESULTS All cases were completed for POEM. The incidence of adverse events during the operation were 2.8%; however, all cases were treated conservatively. There was a vast improvement in clinical symptoms and endoscopic findings. The average Eckardt score was 6.9 before and 0.6 at 1 year after POEM (p<0.05). The average lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure before and 6 months after POEM were 44.34±14.83 mmHg and 19.14±6.74 mmHg (p<0.05), respectively. The average LES relaxation pressure before and 6 months after POEM was 12.11±5.02 mmHg and 3.22±2.29 mmHg (p<0.05), respectively. CONCLUSIONS POEM with the SB Knife is technically efficient and safe in treating achalasia and is associated with favorable short-term outcomes.

Use of Commercial Off-The-Shelf Devices for the Detection of Manual Gestures in Surgery: Systematic Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: The increasingly pervasive presence of technology in the operating room raises the need to study the interaction between the surgeon and computer system. A new generation of tools known as commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) devices enabling touchless gesture-based human-computer interaction is currently being explored as a solution in surgical environments. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this systematic literature review was to provide an account of the state of the art of COTS devices in the detection of manual gestures in surgery and to identify their use as a simulation tool for motor skills teaching in minimally invasive surgery (MIS). METHODS: For this systematic literature review, a search was conducted in PubMed, Excerpta Medica dataBASE, ScienceDirect, Espacenet, OpenGrey, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers databases. Articles published between January 2000 and December 2017 on the use of COTS devices for gesture detection in surgical environments and in simulation for surgical skills learning in MIS were evaluated and selected. RESULTS: A total of 3180 studies were identified, 86 of which met the search selection criteria. Microsoft Kinect (Microsoft Corp) and the Leap Motion Controller (Leap Motion Inc) were the most widely used COTS devices. The most common intervention was image manipulation in surgical and interventional radiology environments, followed by interaction with virtual reality environments for educational or interventional purposes. The possibility of using this technology to develop portable low-cost simulators for skills learning in MIS was also examined. As most of the articles identified in this systematic review were proof-of-concept or prototype user testing and feasibility testing studies, we concluded that the field was still in the exploratory phase in areas requiring touchless manipulation within environments and settings that must adhere to asepsis and antisepsis protocols, such as angiography suites and operating rooms. CONCLUSIONS: COTS devices applied to hand and instrument gesture-based interfaces in the field of simulation for skills learning and training in MIS could open up a promising field to achieve ubiquitous training and presurgical warm up.

Implementation of Vulnerable Elders Survey-13 Frailty Tool to Identify At-Risk Geriatric Surgical Patients.

PURPOSE: The primary purpose of this project was to preoperatively identify frail and vulnerable geriatric patients aged 65 or older using the Vulnerable Elders Survey (VES-13) tool, and to use those scores to assist with perioperative decision-making. DESIGN: This feasibility study was implemented as a quality improvement initiative with a postimplementation group only. METHODS: The VES-13 was introduced to the perioperative nursing staff and anesthesia providers and then added to the traditional preoperative assessment. The VES-13 scores were correlated to hospital length of stay, postanesthesia care unit stay, altered mental status, and morbidity. FINDINGS: Increased identification of older adult surgical patients at risk for increased length of stay, altered mental status, and morbidity in the preoperative setting was not evident, although the VES-13 was effective in identifying functional deficits in the older adult surgical patient. CONCLUSIONS: A detailed and comprehensive preoperative assessment remains the most efficient way to identify frail geriatric surgical patients.

Evolution of robot-assisted general surgery in Greece and Cyprus.

Robot-assisted general surgery in Greece and Cyprus coincided with a devastating financial crisis. We hereby present the evolution of the technology in this unwelcoming environment, using data provided to us by the official distributor of the Da Vinci platform in these countries.

Avaliação de terapias adicionais em pacientes portadores de periodontite agressiva generalizada: tratamento de bolsas residuais e regeneração de lesões de bifurcações. Estudo clínico controlado randomizado / / Evaluation of additional therapies in patients with generalized aggressive periodontitis: treatment of residual pockets and regeneration of furcations defects. Randomized-controlled clinical trial

O tratamento da periodontite agressiva generalizada (PAG) é muito semelhante ao proposto para as demais formas de doenças periodontais, sendo o padrão ouro a raspagem e alisamento radicular (RAR). No entanto, em sítios com bolsas profundas ou localizados em áreas de furca, a RAR pode ser insuficiente para solucionar a infecção periodontal, resultando em bolsas residuais. São raros os trabalhos que avaliam tratamento de bolsas residuais em pacientes portadores de PAG. Também são raros os estudos que visam elucidar o processo de regeneração periodontal nesses indivíduos. Desse modo, o presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar dois tipos de abordagem, esclarecendo o porquê do projeto ser delineado em duas partes. A primeira parte do estudo visou avaliar se as aplicações repetidas de terapia fotodinâmica antimicrobiana (aPDT) se equiparam ao acesso cirúrgico no tratamento de bolsas residuais sem lesões de furca. Assim, foram incluídos 46 pacientes que receberam uma das duas abordagens. Tivemos que o acesso cirúrgico promoveu maior redução de PS em bolsas profundas. No entanto, aPDT resultou em menor recessão gengival, ocorrência de hipersensibilidade e ingestão de analgésico. Concluímos, que aPDT é uma terapia adequada e que traz benefícios clínicos no tratamento de bolsas residuais em PAG. Contudo em sítios profundos, a terapia cirúrgica resulta em maior redução de PS. A segunda parte do estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o tratamento para furcas proximais. Como a literatura já aponta que aPDT não é uma terapia eficaz nesses sítios, o estudo visou elucidar o papel da matriz derivada de esmalte (EMD) como tratamento regenerativo nesses defeitos em pacientes com PAG. Foram incluídos 34 pacientes que receberam acesso cirúrgico associado ou não à EMD. Não tivemos diferença intergrupo para nenhum parâmetro. No entanto, sítios com EMD apresentaram um ganho de inserção horizontal significante em relação ao baseline, diferença não presente para o grupo sem EMD. Concluímos que EMD parece não gerar benefícios clínicos significantes, mas demais estudos são necessários para avaliar a efetividade desse material em locais de furca(AU0

The scaling and root planing (SRP) as a part of the non-surgical periodontal treatment is considerate as gold standart to treatment of the periodontal disease. However, in some cases, such as in deep pockets or sites presenting proximal furcation, SRP may be insufficient to resolve the periodontal infection, resulting in residual pockets. There are few studies that evaluate treatment of residual pockets in patients with generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAgP). Besides that, few studies also aim to elucidate the periodontal regeneration process in these individuals. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate two types of approach, clarifying why the project was delineated into two parts. The first part of the study aims to assess whether repeated applications of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) present equivalent results when compared to surgical approach in the treatment of residual pockets of non-furcation sites. Thus, 46 patients were included and received aPDT or open flap debridement (OFD). The results showed that OFD had a greater a mean reduction of probing depth (PD). However, aPDT presented lower gingival recession, dentin hypersensitivity and analgesic intake. Therefore, we may consider aPDT as an adequate therapy and that brings clinical benefits. Nevertheless, in deep pockets, OFD leads in a greater reduction in PD. The second part aims to evaluate the proximal furcation treatment. The literature shows that aPDT is not an effective therapy in these defects. Thus, the present study aims to elucidate the role of enamel matrix derivative proteins (EMD) as a regenerative therapy in furcation lesions class II. Thirty-four patients were included and received OFD + EMD or OFD, alone. As results, there are no intergroup difference for any parameters. However, OFD + EMD group presented a greater gain of horizontal clinical attachment level when compared to baseline, whereas there is no intragroup difference for OFD group. Therefore, EMD did not promote significant clinical benefits, but other studies are necessary to evaluate the effective this material in proximal furcation(AU)

Medical Devices; General and Plastic Surgery Devices; Classification of the Wound Autofluorescence Imaging Device. Final order.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is classifying the wound autofluorescence imaging device into class I. We are taking this action because we have determined that classifying the device into class I will provide a reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness of the device. We believe this action will also enhance patients' access to beneficial innovative devices, in part by reducing regulatory burdens.

Exchanging implements: the micro-materialities of multidisciplinary work in the operating theatre.

Surgical procedures rely upon an array of commonplace tools, implements and materials that mediate practice and disciplinary collaboration within the operating theatre. Substantial time is dedicated to the issue and provision of these artefacts and their timely exchange is critical to the successful accomplishment of surgical procedures. In this article, we consider the practice, knowledge and agency that informs how particular implements and materials are passed by the scrub nurse to the surgeon that in turn enables their deployment with regard to the particular procedure and the contingencies 'at hand'. We address the technicalities of these 'non-technical skills' and examine how they rely upon a disciplinary vision and interactional organisation that informs both the scrutiny of action and the ways in which implements and materials are handled and exchanged. We explore the implications of our analysis for our understanding of agency in action and the growing interest in developing robots or autonomous agents to support work and collaboration in health care.

Modern techniques of cervical instrumentation in immature skeleton: viability assessment / Técnicas modernas de instrumentação cervical no esqueleto imaturo: avaliação da viabilidade / Técnicas modernas de instrumentación cervical en el esqueleto inmaduro: evaluación de la viabilidad

ABSTRACT Objective: This study describes the use of materials for modern cervical instrumentation, evaluating its viability in children and adolescents, and the techniques used in different cases. The efficacy of the techniques was analyzed through improvement of pain, maintenance of cervical range of motion, recovery of craniocervical stability, bone consolidation, and spinal stenosis in the postoperative follow-up. Method: Retrospective study of the clinical and radiological parameters of 27 patients aged two to 16 years with cervical spine diseases. Results: Two patients had chronic dislocation in C1-C2, one had congenital axis spondylolisthesis, two had congenital dislocation in C1-C2, three had tumors, one had kyphosis after laminectomy, one had post-infection kyphosis, one had fracture, 11 were syndromic with instabilities, and five had congenital cervical scoliosis. As to surgical approaches, two patients were transorally operated, three by anterior approach, 15 by posterior approach, two by anterior and posterior approaches, and five were treated in three stages (anterior, posterior and anterior approaches). Regarding the technique of cervical stabilization, seven patients were treated by Goel-Harms technique, two received Goel's facet distraction, and three, Wright translaminar screws. There were complications in four cases. Two patients in the instrumentation of C1 lateral mass due to poor positioning, one with cerebrospinal fluid fistula and one with surgical wound infection. Conclusion: Modern cervical instrumentation in pediatric patients is a safe and effective technique for the treatment of cervical instability.

RESUMO Objetivo: Este trabalho descreve o uso de materiais para instrumentação cervical moderna, avaliando sua viabilidade em crianças e adolescentes e as técnicas empregadas em diferentes casos. A eficácia das técnicas foi analisada através da melhora da dor, manutenção do arco de movimento, recuperação da estabilidade crânio-cervical, consolidação óssea e estenose de canal medular no seguimento pós-operatório. Método: Estudo retrospectivo dos parâmetros clínicos e radiológicos de 27 pacientes entre dois e 16 anos com doenças da coluna cervical. Resultados: Dois pacientes tinham luxação crônica em C1-C2, um tinha espondilolistese congênita do áxis, dois tinham luxação congênita C1-C2, três tinham tumores, um apresentou cifose pós-laminectomia, um tinha cifose pós-infecção, um tinha fratura, 11 eram sindrômicos com instabilidades e cinco tinham escoliose congênita. Quanto às vias de acesso, dois foram abordados por via transoral, três por via anterior, 15 por via posterior, dois por via anterior e posterior e cinco foram tratados em três etapas (anterior, posterior e anterior). Com relação à técnica de estabilização cervical, em sete foram utilizadas técnica de Goel-Harms, em dois, distração facetária de Goel e em três, parafusos translaminares de Wright. Houve complicações em quatro casos, dois pacientes na instrumentação da massa lateral de C1 por posicionamento inadequado, um com fístula liquórica e um com infecção da ferida operatória. Conclusão: A instrumentação cervical moderna em pacientes pediátricos é uma técnica segura e eficaz para o tratamento de instabilidade cervical.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Este trabajo describe el uso de materiales para instrumentación cervical moderna, evaluando su viabilidad en niños y adolescentes y las técnicas empleadas en diferentes casos. La eficacia de las técnicas fue analizada a través de la mejora del dolor, mantenimiento del rango de movimiento, recuperación de la estabilidad cráneo-cervical, consolidación ósea y estenosis del canal medular en el seguimiento postoperatorio. Método: Estudio retrospectivo de los parámetros clínicos y radiológicos de 27 pacientes entre dos y 16 años con enfermedades de la columna cervical. Resultados: Dos pacientes tenían luxación crónica en C1-C2, uno tenía espondilolistesis congénita del áxis, dos tenían luxación congénita C1-C2, tres tenía tumores, uno presentó cifosis post-laminectomía, uno tenía cifosis post-infección, uno tenía fractura, 11 eran sindrómicos con inestabilidades y cinco tenían escoliosis congénita. En cuanto a las vías de acceso, dos fueron abordados por vía transoral, tres por vía anterior, 15 por vía posterior, dos por vía anterior y posterior y cinco fueron tratados en tres etapas (anterior, posterior y anterior). Con respecto a la técnica de estabilización cervical, en siete se utilizó la técnica de Goel-Harms, en dos, distracción facetaria de Goel y en tres, tornillos translaminares de Wright. Se observaron complicaciones en cuatro casos, dos pacientes en la instrumentación de la masa lateral de C1 por mal posicionamiento, uno con fístula de líquido cefalorraquídeo y uno con infección de la herida operatoria. Conclusión: La instrumentación cervical moderna en pacientes pediátricos es una técnica segura y eficaz para el tratamiento de la inestabilidad cervical.