Radiographic and Respiratory Effects of Growing Rods in Children With Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

BACKGROUND: Respiratory weakness and spinal deformity are common in patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Posterior (distraction type) growing rods have recently gained favor as a treatment option in this population, due to their ability to prevent spinal deformity progression and their potential to allow lung volumes to increase over time. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of posterior growing rods on the spinal alignment and respiratory function in children with SMA with intermediate term follow-up. METHODS: A single center, retrospective review was performed on SMA patients treated with growing rods, inserted between 2004 and 2010, with a minimum of 2-year follow-up. SMA type, changes in the route of bi-level positive airway pressure respiratory support and the amount of time receiving respiratory support are reported. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and radiographs were reviewed and data evaluated preinsertion, postinsertion, and at latest follow-up. RESULTS: Sixteen children with SMA (5 type I, 11 type II) met inclusion criteria. The average age of insertion was 5.8 (±1.5) years, the median number of lengthenings was 4 (range, 3 to 5), and the median time between insertion and last clinical review was 4.7 (range, 2.7 to 9.5) years. Radiographic review demonstrated significant (P<0.05) improvements in the following: Spinal curve magnitude, pelvic obliquity, space available for the lung, rib vertebral angle difference, and thoracic kyphosis following growing rod implantation. Thoracic and lumbar height and chest width and depth increased significantly (P<0.05) over the lengthening process. None of the patients initially required more than noninvasive positive pressure ventilation support. Fifteen of the 16 experienced no changes in their noninvasive positive pressure ventilation support needs throughout the study duration, requiring support only at night and naps. Serial PFTs were available for 6 children with SMA type II. PFTs demonstrated significant improvements in absolute forced vital capacity (FVC), minimal changes in the maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures, and a gradual worsening of percent predicted FVC. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical respiratory support requirements appear to stabilize following the insertion and lengthening of posterior based growing rods in the SMA population. Similar to previous studies, increased spinal height and thoracic cavity size were noted throughout the process. Despite an increasing absolute FVC, the percent predicted FVC diminished over time. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV-therapeutic.

Does the Use of Psychotropic Medication Adversely Affect the Outcomes of Hip Arthroscopy?

BACKGROUND: Over the past decade, the use of psychotropic medications (PTMs) in the United States has doubled, and currently 20% of adults are taking 1 or more of these antidepressant, antianxiety, antipsychotic, or mood-altering medications. To date, however, the incidence of PTM use in patients undergoing hip arthroscopy and the results of hip arthroscopy in these patients have not been reported. PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of PTM use in patients undergoing hip arthroscopy and to compare the outcomes of patients taking PTMs versus those of patients not taking PTMs. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: Medical records of 880 consecutive patients who underwent hip arthroscopy performed by the senior author were reviewed and data were collected, including the number and types of PTMs that these patients were taking at the time of their hip arthroscopy. All hips were assessed with the Byrd modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS) preoperatively; 709 patients (81%) had scores obtained at 12 months and 669 patients (76%) at 24 months after surgery. Demographic data and mHHS of patients taking psychotropic medications (PTM group) were compared with those of patients not taking PTMs (NPTM group). RESULTS: Four hundred twenty-two (48%) of the 880 patients studied were taking PTMs at the time of their hip arthroscopy; significant differences between the PTM and NPTM groups were average age (48 vs 35 years, respectively), and the high percentage of females (53%) and low percentage of males (38%) in the PTM group. Preoperative scores for the PTM and NPTM groups were similar (41 vs 42 points, respectively), but postoperative scores of the PTM group were significantly lower at 6 months (72 vs 89 points), 12 months (77 vs 91 points), and 24 months (79 vs 88 points) after surgery ( P = .01). In contrast, the scores of the subgroups of PTM and NPTM adolescents obtained at 3 months (92.5 vs 88.9 points), 6 months (92.1 vs 90.3 points), 12 months (89.5 vs 92.1 points), and 24 months (90.3 vs 90.1 points) after surgery did not significantly differ. CONCLUSION: The incidence of PTM use in this series of patients with hip arthroscopy was triple that reported for US adults (48% vs 17%, respectively) and adolescents (23% vs 6.3%), and the PTM group had significantly lower 12- and 24-month mHHS results than the NPTM group. These results suggest that (1) patients undergoing hip arthroscopy who are taking PTMs are at significantly higher risk for poor outcomes and (2) their use of PTMs should be identified and addressed before proceeding with hip arthroscopy.

Cervical spinal cord injury after thoracic spinal instrumentation: a case series.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case report of 2 cases. OBJECTIVE: To describe 2 cases of cervical spinal cord injury/vascular insult after posterior instrumentation of thoracic/thoracolumbar scoliosis. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Spinal cord injury is an uncommon but well-documented complication associated with spinal deformity surgery. The midthoracic spinal cord is most vulnerable to these presumed vascular insults. Injuries above the level of instrumentation are rare. METHODS: In this report, we review the clinical histories of 2 adolescent females undergoing posterior spinal fusion with subsequent cervical spinal cord injuries. RESULTS: In both cases, intraoperative cervical alignment appeared neutral and all hardware appeared appropriately positioned. Spinal cord monitoring demonstrated changes in 1 patient but not in the other. With time, both patients improved clinically. CONCLUSION: Cervical spinal cord injuries may occur after distal deformity correction.