Upper Cervical Surgery, Increased Signal Intensity of the Spinal Cord, and Hypertension as Risk Factors for Dyspnea After Multilevel Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion

Risk Factors for Reintubation After Anterior Cervical Spine Surgery: Comparative Study of Patients With Cervical Spine Trauma and Patients With Cervical Degenerative Disease

STUDY DESIGN

Single-center retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES

The aim was to compare the postoperative outcomes of anterior cervical spine surgery (ACSS) in patients with and without cervical spine trauma.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND

Few papers have addressed airway obstruction after anterior ACSS for patients with cervical spine trauma. This study aimed to compare airway obstruction after ACSS between patients with cervical degenerative disorders and cervical spine injuries and identify the risk factors for unplanned postoperative reintubation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Seventy-seven patients who underwent ACSS were enrolled in this retrospective study. There were 52 men and 25 women, with a mean age of 60.3±15.5 years old. The causes of surgery were as follows: 24 cervical spine fractures or dislocations, 12 spinal cord injuries without bony fracture, 19 disc herniations, and 22 myelopathies. The patients' characteristics, operative data, and risk factors for unplanned reintubation within 5 days postoperatively were analyzed using medical records.

RESULTS

Postoperative reintubation was performed in 3 patients (3.9%), all of whom suffered trauma. We further examined risk factors for reintubation in patients in the trauma group. There was no significant difference between the reintubation (R) and nonreintubation (non-R) groups in age, sex, body mass index, amount of blood loss and operation time, preoperative paralysis severity, and the number of fused segments. Patients in group R had significantly higher rates of severe anterior element injury (100% vs. 27.3%, P =0.0011). Airway obstruction due to laryngopharyngeal edema and swelling was confirmed by laryngoscopy and computed tomography images.

CONCLUSIONS

Unplanned reintubation after ACSS occurred at a higher rate in trauma patients than in patients with degenerative disorders. Our results suggested that the severe damage to the anterior element of the cervical spine was associated with postoperative reintubation.

EVIDENCE LEVEL

Level IV.

The Effect of Hyperlipidemia as a Risk Factor on Postoperative Complications in Patients Undergoing Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the effect of hyperlipidemia (HLD) on postoperative complications in patients who underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF).

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

ACDF represents the standard procedure performed for focal anterior nerve root or spinal cord compression with low complication rates. HLD is well known as a risk factor for major complications after vascular and transplant surgery, and orthopedic surgery. To date, there have been no studies on HLD as a risk factor for cervical spine surgery.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients who underwent ACDF from 2010 through quarter 3 of 2020 were enrolled using the MSpine subset of the PearlDiver Patient Record Database. The patients were divided into single-level ACDF and multilevel ACDF groups. In addition, each group was divided into subgroups according to the presence or absence of HLD. The incidence of surgical and medical complications was queried using relevant International Classification of Disease and Current Procedural Terminology codes. Charlson Comorbidity Index was used as a broad measure of comorbidity. χ 2 analysis, with populations matched for age, sex, and Charlson Comorbidity Index, was performed.

RESULTS

A total of 24,936 patients who underwent single-level ACDF and 26,921 patients who underwent multilevel ACDF were included. In the multilevel ACDF group, wound complications were significantly higher in the patients with HLD. Among medical complications, myocardial infarction, renal failure, and urinary tract infection/urinary incontinence were significantly higher in the patients with HLD in both groups. Revision surgery and readmission were significantly higher in the patients with HLD who underwent multilevel ACDF.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients who underwent ACDF, several surgical and medical complications were found to be higher in patients with HLD than in patients without HLD. Preoperative serum lipid concentration levels and management of HLD should be considered during preoperative planning to prevent postoperative complications in patients undergoing ACDF.

Upper cervical anterior fusion to C2 with temporary infrahyoid muscle detachment: a clinical case series and description of surgical technique

BACKGROUND

Anterior cervical spine surgery to C2 (ACSS-C2) is a challenging procedure that often results in postoperative persistent dysphagia or dyspnea due to injury to the internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (iSLN) or the relatively narrow and soft oropharynx. This study aimed to describe the surgical outcomes of our modified approach with temporary infrahyoid muscle detachment during ACSS-C2.

METHODS

Patients who underwent ACSS-C2 at two institutions between June 2015 and January 2022 were prospectively enrolled. Intraoperatively, we performed temporary detachment of the infrahyoid muscle from the hyoid bone to improve laryngeal mobility and accessibility to C2. This procedure also allowed for the easy identification and preservation of the iSLN. We retrospectively investigated the surgery-related complications and outcomes of bony fusion.

RESULTS

Twelve patients were enrolled in this study; five and seven patients underwent single- and multi-level fusion surgery, respectively. Intraoperative preservation of the iSLN and proper visualization of C2 were achieved in all cases. Subsequent decompression and instrumentation were successfully performed. Two older patients (78 and 81 years) who underwent multi-level fusion experienced transient postoperative dysphagia. None of the patients required unplanned reintubation or revision surgery because of instrumentation failure. Solid bony fusion was achieved in all cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Our modified approach with temporary infrahyoid muscle detachment during ACSS-C2 reduces the incidence of postoperative persistent dysphagia and dyspnea. However, in older patients at high risk for postoperative dysphagia, multi-level fusion should be avoided, and alternative procedures should be considered.

Comparison of the outcome after anterior cervical ossified posterior longitudinal ligament en bloc resection versus posterior total laminectomy and fusion in patients with ossification of the cervical posterior longitudinal ligament: a prospective randomized controlled trial

The optimal procedure for the treatment of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) remains controversial. The aim of this study was to compare the outcome of anterior cervical ossified posterior longitudinal ligament en bloc resection (ACOE) with posterior laminectomy and fusion with bone graft and internal fixation (PTLF) for the surgical management of patients with this condition. Between July 2017 and July 2019, 40 patients with cervical OPLL were equally randomized to undergo surgery with an ACOE or a PTLF. The clinical and radiological results were compared between the two groups. The Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score and recovery rate in the ACOE group were significantly higher than those in the PTLF group during two years postoperatively, provided that the canal occupying ratio (COR) was > 50%, or the K-line was negative. There was no significant difference in JOA scores and rate of recovery between the two groups in those in whom the COR was < 50%, or the K-line was positive. There was no significant difference in the Cobb angle between C2 and C7, sagittal vertical axis, cervical range of motion (ROM), and complications between the two groups. Compared with PTLF, ACOE is a preferred surgical approach for the surgical management of patients with cervical OPLL in that it offers a better therapeutic outcome when the COR is > 50%, or the K-line is negative, and it also preserves better cervical curvature and sagittal balance. The prognosis of ACOE is similar to that of PTLE when the COR is < 50%, or the K-line is positive.

The influence of modifiable risk factors on short-term postoperative outcomes following cervical spine surgery: A retrospective propensity score matched analysis

BACKGROUND

Modifiable risk factors (MRFs) represent patient variables associated with increased complication rates that may be prevented. There exists a paucity of studies that comprehensively analyze MRF subgroups and their independent association with postoperative complications in patients undergoing cervical spine surgery. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to compare outcomes between patients receiving cervical spine surgery with reported MRFs.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of the Nationwide Readmissions Database (NRD) from the years 2016 and 2017, a publicly available and purchasable data source, to include adult patients undergoing cervical fusion. MRF cohorts were separated into three categories: substance abuse (alcohol, tobacco/nicotine, opioid abuse); vascular disease (hypertension, dyslipidemia); and dietary factors (malnutrition, obesity). Three-way nearest-neighbor propensity score matching for demographics, hospital, and surgical characteristics was implemented.

FINDINGS

We identified 9601 with dietary MRFs (D-MRF), 9654 with substance abuse MRFs (SA-MRF), and 9503 with vascular MRFs (V-MRF). Those with d-MRFs had significantly higher rates of medical complications (9.3%), surgical complications (8.1%), and higher adjusted hospital costs compared to patients with SA-MRFs and V-MRFs. Patients with d-MRFs (16.3%) and V-MRFs (14.0%) were independently non-routinely discharged at a significantly higher rate compared to patients with SA-MRFs (12.6%) (p<0.0001 and p = 0.0037). However, those with substance abuse had the highest readmission rate and were more commonly readmitted for delayed procedure-related infections.

INTERPRETATION

A large proportion of patients who receive cervical spine surgery have potential MRFs that uniquely influence their postoperative outcomes. A thorough understanding of patient-specific MRF subgroups allows for improved preoperative risk stratification, tailored patient counseling, and postoperative management planning.

FUNDING

None.