Short-term outcomes after primary reverse total shoulder arthroplasty in patients with cervical spine pathology or previous cervical spine surgery compared to those without.

BACKGROUND: Cervical spine (c-spine) and shoulder pathology have been known to cause similar symptoms and often co-exist, making an accurate diagnosis difficult, especially in an elderly population. Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) has been shown to decrease pain and improve quality of life when shoulder pathology is the source of pain and disability. The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence of c-spine pathology in a cohort of patients who underwent rTSA and to compare postoperative outcome scores to a cohort without c-spine pathology. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed utilizing a single institution's operative records of primary rTSAs. Radiology reports, imaging, and operative reports were reviewed, and presence of any c-spine pathology or previous surgery were recorded. Additionally, postoperative outcome scores (American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons [ASES], Constant Score, University of California, Los Angeles [UCLA], and Simple Shoulder Test [SST]) were evaluated at >2 years post-rTSA. RESULTS: A total of 438 primary rTSA cases were evaluated. Of these, 143 (32.6%) had documentation of prior c-spine pathology and/or history of previous c-spine surgery. After applying further exclusion criteria, a total of 50 patients with c-spine pathology and 108 patients without c-spine pathology were found to have complete medical records and postoperative outcome scores to allow comparison between groups. Patients without c-spine pathology were found to have statistically higher postoperative UCLA, ASES, and SST scores when compared to patients with c-spine pathology. Patients without c-spine pathology also demonstrated a significant improvement in the difference between their postoperative and preoperative UCLA and ASES scores. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated a high prevalence of c-spine pathology (32.6%) in a cohort of patients who underwent primary rTSA. Additionally, short-term outcome scores of patients undergoing rTSA with concomitant c-spine pathology are significantly lower than those of patients without a history of c-spine pathology.

Cervical Spine Pathology Increases the Risk of Rotator Cuff Tear: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with cervical radiculopathy typically present with shoulder pain and weakness; these symptoms are similar to those of rotator cuff disease. Studies investigating cervical spine pathology (CSP) as an independent risk factor for rotator cuff tear (RCT) are lacking in the literature. PURPOSE: To investigate the risk of RCT among patients with CSP who have undergone cervical diskectomy (CD) and to determine whether CD reduces this risk. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: The authors queried the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database for patients diagnosed with CSP between 2004 and 2008 and followed up until the end of 2010. A control cohort comprised patients without CSP who were age- and sex-matched in a 4-to-1 ratio with patients with CSP through propensity score matching. A Cox multivariate proportional hazards model was applied to analyze the risk factors for RCT. After adjustment for confounders, the authors calculated the hazard ratio (HR) and adjusted HR (aHR) between the study and control cohorts. The effects of CD on the risk of RCT were also analyzed. RESULTS: The study included 3245 patients and 12,980 matched controls. A higher RCT incidence rate was found in the CSP cohort, with an aHR of 1.52 (95% CI, 1.22-1.89; P < .001). Patients with CSP who underwent CD had a risk of RCT similar to that of the controls, with an aHR of 1.65 (95% CI, 0.90-3.03; P > .05). CONCLUSION: Patients with CSP had a 1.52-fold higher risk of RCT than healthy controls. Patients with CSP with CD did not have a high risk of RCT, possibly indicating a protective effect of diskectomy against RCT.

Not everything is as it seems.

We report a case of a patient operated for shoulder rotator cuff injury under interscalene brachial plexus block and general anesthesia, who developed neurological deficit in the nonoperative upper limb in the immediate postoperative period. As our patient developed neurological deficit on the nonoperative side, it was clear from the beginning that neither the nerve block nor the operative procedure was responsible for it. However, had he developed neurological symptoms on the operative side after having a peripheral nerve block, it would have possibly delayed the timely investigation and diagnosis. This case report underlines the need to keep an open mind when investigating neurological symptoms arising in the perioperative period, rather than assuming it to be secondary to either nerve block or as a complication of surgical procedure.

C-arm fluoroscopy for tracheal intubation in a patient with severe cervical spine pathology.

Tracheal intubation is challenging in patients with severe cervical spine pathology. In such cases, awake fiberoptic intubation is the gold standard and safest option for tracheal intubation. However, this technique requires the patient's understanding and cooperation, and therefore, may be contraindicated in patients with refusal or poor tolerance. Herein, we report successful orotracheal intubation in a patient with limited mouth opening and severe cervical spine rigidity under general anesthesia using an extraglottic airway device and a gum-elastic bougie under C-arm fluoroscopic guidance.

Cervical spine pathology and treatment: a global overview.

Cervical spine pathology is becoming increasingly prevalent with an aging world population and is associated with significant morbidity, affecting all areas of the world. This review was undertaken to provide a global perspective on cervical spine pathology, including epidemiology, burden of disease, access to care, and plan of care in both developed and developing low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We found that epidemiology, access to care, plan of care, and health outcomes were relatively similar between nations with similar economies. However, these aspects change dramatically when comparing developing nations to LMICs, with LMICs displaying substantial barriers to care and subsequently higher rates of morbidity and mortality. There is currently a need for large-scale, global, prospective multicenter studies that analyze not only the epidemiology and treatment of cervical spine pathology, but also consider patient outcomes.

The prevalence and impact of cervical spine pathologies in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and its treatment can lead to cervical spine pathologies such as metastases, osteoradionecrosis (ORN) and infection. However, the occurrence rate and relationship between timing of diagnosis and outcomes of the ever-advancing technology of radiation therapy is largely unknown. Hence, the aim of this study is to determine the prevalence and impact of cervical spine pathologies in patients with NPC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of all newly diagnosed cases of NPC from 2007 to 2016 at a tertiary referral oncology and spine centre with minimum 1-year post-treatment follow-up. All cervical spine pathologies, their treatment and outcomes were determined. Presentation, onset time and correlations of the cervical spine pathologies with mortality and risk factors were also analysed. RESULTS: Out of 605 cases of verified cases of NPC, cervical spine pathologies were seen in 8.9% of patients. New onset neck pain was seen in 5.3%, symptomatic cervical spondylosis in 4.8%, cervical spine metastases in 2.5%, local tumour invasion in 0.8%, cervical ORN in 0.7%, osteomyelitis in 0.7%, radiculopathy in 0.3%, and myelopathy in 0.3%. Cervical spine pathologies were associated with an increased risk (odds ratio: 2.73) in overall mortality. Cervical spine metastases, invasion, ORN and infection were associated with significantly higher risk of mortality (p = 0.01-0.02). CONCLUSION: Cervical spine pathologies in patients with NPC are heterogenous but not uncommon. Neck pain is prevalent but is often benign. ORN and osteomyelitis of the cervical spine is uncommon but have large clinical implications including higher mortality with subtle presentations.

Observational Study of Depression in Patients Undergoing Cervical Disc Arthroplasty: Evidence of a Correlation between Pain Relief and Resolution of Depression.

BACKGROUND: Depression has been associated with inferior outcomes following lumbar spine surgery. Our purpose was to investigate the prevalence of depression and its impact on the outcomes of a large sample of cervical disc arthroplasty patients and to examine the change in depression occurring in conjunction with changes in disability and pain. METHODS: A cohort of 271 patients who underwent single or multi-level cervical disc arthroplasty at a single orthopedic center filled out the Neck Disability Index, Medical Outcomes Study SF-36, numerical rating scales for neck pain and arm pain, preoperatively and 12-month postoperatively. Patients were classified as Depressed or Non-Depressed, based on their preoperative SF-36 Mental Component Summary (MCS) score. Preoperative scores, 12-month postoperative scores, and change in scores (adjusted for preoperative scores, smoking status, and strenuous job) were compared between Depressed and Non-Depressed. Next, patients in the 2 groups were subdivided into 4 groups: Always Depressed, Never Depressed, No Longer Depressed, and Newly Depressed, based on their combined preoperative and postoperative MCS scores. The same score comparisons were conducted among the 4 groups. RESULTS: Forty-four percent (118 of 271) of the patients in our sample were Depressed. Despite a significant improvement after surgery, Depressed patients had poorer pre- and postoperative scores than Non-Depressed patients for NDI, MCS, neck pain and arm pain. Two-thirds (80 of 118) of the Depressed patients were No Longer Depressed at 12 months and had postoperative scores similar to the Never Depressed patients. Eight percent (12 of 153) of the Non-Depressed patients became Newly Depressed by 12 months and had postoperative scores similar to the Always Depressed patients. CONCLUSIONS: Depression is a common occurrence in patients with cervical disorders. Relief from pain and disability after cervical disc arthroplasty can be associated with relief from depression, but poor outcomes may also result in patients becoming depressed.