Is fusion the most suitable treatment option for recurrent lumbar disc herniation? A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

Recurrent lumbar disc herniation (rLDH) is a common issue after primary discectomy and can cause severe pain, morbidity, and reoperation. The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the surgical management of recurrent lumbar disc herniation.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was conducted using Pubmed and Embase databases on 18^thAugust, 2019. The inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied according to study design, surgical approach, language, number of patients; and spinal level. Data extracted included patient demographics, and clinical outcomes (patients with excellent/good outcomes; VAS back and leg score improvement, complication and recurrence rates).

RESULTS

Sixteen studies, (comprising of seven prospective and nine retrospective) met the inclusion criteria. Ten studies evaluated discectomy only; four analysed fusion, and two analysed both discectomy only and fusion approaches. Fusion approaches recorded a superior success rate (8.3 % higher, p>0.05); postoperative VAS back score improvement (5 % higher, p>0.05) than discectomy alone.  However, discectomy alone approaches recorded a more favourable postoperative VAS leg score improvement (4.2 % higher p>0.05), and complication rate (3.2% lower, p>0.05) than fusion techniques.

CONCLUSION

There is significant heterogeneity in clinical outcomes reported for studies after surgical intervention in rLDH patients. Neither discectomy nor fusion's superiority was statistically significant. Despite fusion yielding longer operative times, and length of stay (adding to the expense), it is superior in minimising mechanical instability and recurrence. Finally, we conclude that both approaches are equally efficacious in rLDH cases, and choice should be based on a case by case basis.

[Lumbar microdiscectomy using intraoperative ultrasound]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze advisability of intraoperative ultrasound during lumbar microdiscectomy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We used intraoperative ultrasound to identify and localize various tissues and structures of the spinal canal, optimize surgical approach to the herniated disc and assess decompression of neural structures. The study was conducted in 48 patients with herniated discs of the lumbar spine who were operated for the period from 2014 to 2017. We used ultrasound devices BK Medical Pro Focus 2202 and BK Medical Flex Focus 400 with neurosurgical transducer Craniotomy 8862 and Burr-Hole 8863. Examinations were performed before and after flavotomy during neural decompression and after decompression. All patients underwent laboratory, clinical and instrumental survey. We analyzed changes of functional and neurological status and investigated various possibilities of intraoperative ultrasound and its impact on postoperative outcomes.

RESULTS

Intraoperative ultrasound is valuable to verify various tissues and structures of the lumbar spine. On-line scanning gives a correct volumetric representation of the various anatomical structures and their spatial relationships that is essential for less traumatic and more radical surgery.

CONCLUSION

Intraoperative ultrasound is easy, harmless, inexpensive and widely available method of intraoperative imaging. US data may be comparable with those of intraoperative CT and MRI. Intraoperative ultrasound during lumbar microdiscectomy results better postoperative outcomes.

Vertebral instability of lumbar spine and its neurological presentations

 Background. The research results of data of 57 patients with vertebral instability of lumbar spine with neurological presentations are presented. Patients were on in-patient treatment at the Vertebral surgery department of Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics (Kyiv) in 2010–2014. Research object. The aim of the research was to determine the features of clinical signs and X-ray measures depending on type and stage of instability in lumbar spine. Materials and methods. The research is based on the analysis of management of 57 patients with lumbar spine instability. The management consisted of anamnesis, examination of patients, X-ray of spine, MRI and CT. The majority of patients were males. There were 35 (61.4 %) males, 22 (38.6 %) females among all of the patients. Due to the data of the research it was inquired that the spine instability was detected frequently in the most employable age, from 20 to 44 years – 30 (52.6 %) cases. Results and discussion. The spine instability is clinical and radiographic manifestation of pathological removability of contiguous vertebras due to each other. This resulted in lesion of vertebras and adjoined vessels and nerves, caused by inadequate supporting system of spinal motion segments. Failure of spinal motion segments develops mainly in degenerative and dystrophic disorders resulted in acute or chronic congestions influenced by microtraumas. Development of secondary lesions of spine and spinal radixes are affected by deformation of spine and spinal channel. Emerging of pathological processes is accompanied by orthopedic and neurological presentations, that requiring surgical correction. Conclusions. Instability of VMS is caused by structure alteration of intervertebral discs, aquatics and processes joints and a part of vertebral arc between joints. Clinical signs depend on the level of localization and the stage of spine instability. Among patients with spine instability the manifestation of radixes lesions were on the 1st place – 29 (50.9 %) cases, on the 2nd place – lesions of lumbago – 19 (33.3 %) cases. X-ray features of instability are: enlargement of linear displacement of vertebral body in sagittal plane more than 4.5 mm, segmental axial rotation of vertebra – more than 40°.

[Rehabilitation of the patients presenting with the operated spine syndrome during the complicated postoperative period after discectomy]

This article presents an analytical review of the literature concerning the problem of rehabilitation of the patients following the surgical treatment of hernias of intervertebral disks. The relevance of this problem and the importance of the related research activities in the context of neurorehabilitation are beyond any doubt. Despite the obvious progress in the modernization of the methods and technologies for medical rehabilitation, the number of re-operations in connection with the recurrences of herniated discs remains too high and the overall success thus far achieved in this field falls short of expectations. The authors discuss in detail the need for and the contemporary approaches to the rehabilitative treatment of the patients undergoing vertebral microdiscectomy including medication therapy, physiotherapy an therapeutic physical exercises. The variants of the application of magnetic stimulation during the early period of the rehabilitative treatment of the patients following the minimally invasive interventions for discogenic radiculopathy are considered.