Influence of demographic factors and clinical status parameters on long-term neurological, psychological and vegetative outcome following traumatic brain injury.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the neurologic, psychological and vegetative outcome, the health status and changes of the personal and occupational status of patients after traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Correlations between outcome parameters and basic demographic factors and initial clinical status parameters of the patients were assessed. RESEARCH DESIGN: Monocentric, retrospective follow-up analysis. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: We evaluated the neurologic, psychological and vegetative outcome and health status of patients, who survived TBI with a mean follow-up time of 54 months. Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS), Disability Rating Scale (DRS) and a questionnaire on Quality of Life were used for outcome measurement. The personal and occupational status, trauma-derived changes to that status and medical and demographic factors that have an impact on the health condition of patients after TBI were assessed. MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: With a median GOS of 5.0 and median DRS of 3.0, our patients showed just moderate disabilities. Fifty-six per cent of the patients felt 'very good' or 'good'. Age, gender, the preclinical Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), state of pupil reaction and surgical treatment did not seem to affect the GOS or DRS. Correlations between body mass index, age and gender and distinct neurologic, psychological and vegetative symptoms were found. The personal status did not change significantly after TBI. Changes to occupational and socioeconomic status were evident. CONCLUSIONS: One-third of the patients are heavily affected by neurological, psychological and vegetative symptoms after surviving TBI. Some demographic factors affected this integrity.

Analysis of complications and perioperative data after open or percutaneous dorsal instrumentation following traumatic spinal fracture of the thoracic and lumbar spine: a retrospective cohort study including 491 patients.

PURPOSE: The aim of the current study is to analyze perioperative data and complications of open vs. percutaneous dorsal instrumentation after dorsal stabilization in patients suffering from fractures of the thoracic or lumbar spine. METHODS: In the time period from 01/2007 to 06/2009, open surgical approach was used for dorsal stabilization. The percutaneous surgical approach was used from 05/2009 to 03/2014. In every time period, all types of fractures were treated only by open or by percutaneous approach, respectively, to avoid any selection bias. Retrospectively, epidemiological data, complications and perioperative data were documented and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 491 patients met the inclusion criteria. Open surgery procedure was carried out on 169 patients, and percutaneous surgery procedure was carried out on 322 patients. Fracture level ranged from T1 to L5, and fractures were classified types A, B, and C. In 91.4% of all patients, no complication occured following dorsal stabilization after traumatic spine fracture during their hospital stay. However, 42 complications related to dorsal stabilization have been documented during the hospital stay. The complication rate was 14.8% if open surgical approach has been used and was significantly reduced to 5.3% using percutaneous surgical approach. Post-operative hospital stay was also reduced significantly using the percutaneous surgical approach. CONCLUSIONS: According to the current study, percutaneous dorsal stabilization of the spine could also be safely used in trauma cases and is not restricted to degenerative spinal surgery.

Comparison of pedicle screw misplacement following open vs. percutaneous dorsal instrumentation after traumatic spinal fracture.

OBJECTIVE: Dorsal stabilization is a frequently used procedure in the treatment of acute traumatic vertebral body fractures. Besides the traditional open surgical procedure, the percutaneous positioning of pedicle screws is now widely used. The aim of the current study is to compare pedicle screw misplacement following open vs. percutaneous dorsal instrumentation after traumatic spinal fracture of the thoracic and lumbar spine and to assess possible risk factors associated with pedicle screw misplacement. METHODS: All patients who suffered a traumatic spinal fracture that were treated with dorsal stabilization in our level I trauma center in the period from 01/2007 to 03/2014 were included in this retrospective therapeutic cohort study. From 01/2007 to 06/2009, an open surgical procedure was used, and from 06/2009 to 03/2014, the percutaneous procedure was used for all types of fractures. Retrospectively, the positioning of every single pedicle screw was evaluated in the post-operative computed tomography scan and classified. Epidemiological data were also documented to compare the two treatment groups. RESULTS: A total of 491 patients with 681 vertebral body fractures were included. Of 733 pedicle screws placed during the open surgery procedure, 96.0% were within the safe zone. There was no significant difference compared with pedicle screws placed percutaneously (95.3% of 1884 screws). In all other categories, the number of misplaced pedicle screws also showed no differences between the two treatment groups. There is a positive correlation between pedicle screw misplacement and duration of the operation. Most pedicle screws are misplaced at the levels T12, L1 and T7, T8. CONCLUSION: The current study shows that percutaneous surgery using dorsal stabilization allows the positioning of pedicle screws in an equivalently safe manner compared with an open surgical procedure in the acute care of spinal trauma.

Influence of Previous Comorbidities and Common Complications on Motor Function after Early Surgical Treatment of Patients with Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury.

The influence of complications and comorbidities on the outcome of patients with traumatic spinal cord injury after early surgery is unclear. The aim of the current study was to analyze the influence of previous comorbidities and common complications on motor function outcome of patients with traumatic spinal cord injury if early surgery was performed. All patients with a traumatic spinal cord injury who were initially surgically treated in our hospital in the period from January 2008 to December 2013 were included in this study. Epidemiological data and previous comorbidities (cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, spinal) were documented. A neurological assessment was performed using the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) score. Retrospectively, patients' personal data (age, gender, comorbidities) and clinical data (complications, ASIA score, motor function) were analyzed statistically. A total of 133 patients met the inclusion criteria. The level of spinal cord injury ranged from C3 to L4. Motor function was improved from 51.5 ± 24.8 to 60.1 ± 25.0 (improvement: 25.7%). The most common complications were urinary tract infection and pneumonia. There is a significant relationship between a lack of previous spinal comorbidities and a better outcome in terms of motor function. No other comorbidities or complications showed any effect on motor function outcome. The current study shows that motor function was able to be improved in patients who were given early surgery after a traumatic spinal cord injury. Common complications as well as previous cardiovascular, pulmonary, and metabolic comorbidities do not impair motor function outcome. The final motor function score is reduced if patients have previous spinal comorbidities.