Patient-Reported Outcomes and Return to Work after CT-Guided Percutaneous Lumbar Discectomy: A Prospective Study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of percutaneous lumbar discectomy (PLD) under computed tomography (CT) guidance on pain and functional capacities and to estimate the speed of recovery by assessing the time to return to work. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients treated with PLD were prospectively included between December 2019 and April 2021. Data regarding pain, duration of symptoms, analgesia intakes, time of absence from work, and the Oswestry disability index (ODI) were collected. Patients were followed-up during 6 months. Duration of hospitalization and time to return to work were reported. The Fisher test was used to compare nominal variables, the Kruskal-Wallis test to compare ordinal variables, and the Student t test to compare quantitative continuous variables. RESULTS: A total of 87 patients were evaluated (median age, 56 years; interquartile range [IQR], 43-66 years). The median ODI decreased from 44 (IQR, 33-53) to 7 (IQR, 2-17) at 6 months (P < .001). The median visual analog scale score decreased from 8 (IQR, 8-9) to 2 (IQR, 0-3) within 6 months (P < .001). In total, 96.5% of patients were discharged on the day of the procedure, and 3.5% were discharged on the following day. No severe adverse events were reported according to the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) classification system. Of the 57 patients previously employed, 50 were able to return to work during the follow-up, with a median time of 8 days (IQR, 0-20 days). CONCLUSIONS: Symptomatic lumbar disc herniation can be successfully treated using PLD, resulting in significant improvement in symptoms and functional capacities and a fast return to work.

Lack of radiation awareness among referrers: implications and possible solutions.

AIM: In the recent years, there has been a substantial increase in the use of ionising radiation investigations where it is known that this is associated with adverse effects most notably, risk of cancer. In the UK, it is estimated that 700 new cancer cases/year will develop as a result of medical radiation. According to radiation regulations, all referrers should have awareness of the relevant radiation doses. With these facts in mind, the author wanted to assess the referrers' knowledge of radiation-induced cancer risk and radiation doses received by patients. METHODS: Referrers from three hospitals took part in a questionnaire. An introduction about natural radiation & radiation risks was provided. The referrers were asked to (i) rank different radiological investigations from lowest to highest radiation dose, (ii) estimate the equivalent doses of radiation in chest X-ray (CXR) numbers and (iii) give an estimation of cancer risk upon performing them. RESULTS: After receiving 100 different responses, the online survey was deactivated. A total of 37% of all respondents ranked the radiological investigations correctly, 15% thought that Ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging utilise ionising radiation. Eleven per cent also thought that radionuclide studies do not involve ionising radiation. A total of 82% and 50% correctly estimated the risk of cancer upon performing CXR and abdomen computed tomography respectively. CONCLUSION: A large proportion of the referrers underestimated the doses and risks involved, this lack of awareness of radiation risk has serious implications on patients, and maybe applied throughout the UK, if not globally. Possible solutions have also been discussed.

Trans-rectal Ultrasound-Guided Autologous Blood Injection in the Interprostatorectal Space Prior to Percutaneous MRI-Guided Cryoablation of the Prostate.

OBJECTIVE: To report a novel technique of ultrasound-guided injection of autologous blood in the interprostatorectal space, in an attempt to facilitate ablative prostatic procedures by widening durably the space between the rectum and the prostate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between April and November 2016, four consecutive patients underwent the haemoprotection injection technique. For each patient, we recorded the time to perform the technique, the amount of injected blood, the achieved distances between the rectum and the prostate post-injection at fixed defined points (apex, middle, and base of prostate at the midline, left, and right sides of the gland), the extension of the ice ball outside the prostate capsule at those fixed points, and whether any residual blood was present on 1-month follow-up MRI. RESULTS: Mean time to perform haemoprotection injection was 54 min, with an average blood volume of 103 cc. Mean distance achieved at the apex, middle, and base of the prostate, respectively, was 12, 13, and 16 mm in the midline; 8, 10, and 13 mm on the left side; and 9, 10, and 13 mm on the right side. The mean extension distance of the ice ball beyond the capsule was 4, 6, and 6 mm in the midline; 4, 5, and 6 mm on the left side; and 1, 3, and 3 mm on the right side. No residual blood was present on 1-month follow-up MRI in all patients. No rectal fistula occurred. CONCLUSION: Haemoprotection may create a safe and effective virtual space between the prostate and rectum.

An ice block: a novel technique of successful prevention of cement leakage using an ice ball.

We report three cases of painful bone metastases with extraosseous invasion treated with cementoplasty and cryoablation. Due to significant cortical loss in all cases, the ice ball was used simultaneously during cementoplasty to deter potential cement leakage. This was achieved by direct application of the ice ball against the cortical surface, resulting in adequate consolidation and successful containment of the cement within the treated bones. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report to describe such a combined technique.