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Silwal P, Nguyen-Thai AM, Alexander PG, Sowa GA, Vo NV, Lee JY. Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Hypertrophy of Ligamentum Flavum. Biomolecules 2024; 14:1277. [PMID: 39456209 PMCID: PMC11506588 DOI: 10.3390/biom14101277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2024] [Revised: 09/23/2024] [Accepted: 10/05/2024] [Indexed: 10/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Hypertrophy of the ligamentum flavum (HLF) is a common contributor to lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). Fibrosis is a core pathological factor of HLF resulting in degenerative LSS and associated low back pain. Although progress has been made in HLF research, the specific molecular mechanisms that promote HLF remain to be defined. The molecular factors involved in the onset of HLF include increases in inflammatory cytokines such as transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, matrix metalloproteinases, and pro-fibrotic growth factors. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of the mechanisms involved in HLF with a particular emphasis on aging and mechanical stress. We also discuss in detail how several pathomechanisms such as fibrosis, proliferation and apoptosis, macrophage infiltration, and autophagy, in addition to several molecular pathways involving TGF-β1, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPKs), and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling, PI3K/AKT signaling, Wnt signaling, micro-RNAs, extracellular matrix proteins, reactive oxygen species (ROS), etc. are involved in fibrosis leading to HLF. We also present a summary of the current advancements in preclinical animal models for HLF research. In addition, we update the current and potential therapeutic targets/agents against HLF. An improved understanding of the molecular processes behind HLF and a novel animal model are key to developing effective LSS prevention and treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prashanta Silwal
- Ferguson Laboratory for Spine Research, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
| | - Allison M. Nguyen-Thai
- Ferguson Laboratory for Spine Research, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Peter G. Alexander
- Ferguson Laboratory for Spine Research, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
| | - Gwendolyn A. Sowa
- Ferguson Laboratory for Spine Research, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh Medical Cancer, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Nam V. Vo
- Ferguson Laboratory for Spine Research, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
| | - Joon Y. Lee
- Ferguson Laboratory for Spine Research, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
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Lovi A, Gallazzi E, Galbusera F, Colombini A, Pregliasco F, Peretti G, Brayda-Bruno M. Perioperative adverse events in adult and pediatric spine surgery: A prospective cohort analysis of 364 consecutive patients. BRAIN AND SPINE 2022; 2:100858. [PMID: 36248110 PMCID: PMC9560666 DOI: 10.1016/j.bas.2021.100858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Lovi
- Spine Surgery III – Scoliosis Division, I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milan, Italy
| | - Enrico Gallazzi
- U.O. Ortopedia e Traumatologia per le Patologie della Colonna Vertebrale, ASST Centro Specialistico Ortopedico Traumatologico G. Pini – CTO, Milan, Italy
- Corresponding author.
| | | | | | | | | | - Marco Brayda-Bruno
- Spine Surgery III – Scoliosis Division, I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milan, Italy
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Greenberg JK, Olsen MA, Poe J, Dibble CF, Yamaguchi K, Kelly MP, Hall BL, Ray WZ. Administrative Data Are Unreliable for Ranking Hospital Performance Based on Serious Complications After Spine Fusion. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2021; 46:1181-1190. [PMID: 33826589 PMCID: PMC8363514 DOI: 10.1097/brs.0000000000004017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN Retrospective analysis of administrative billing data. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the extent to which a metric of serious complications determined from administrative data can reliably profile hospital performance in spine fusion surgery. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA While payers are increasingly focused on implementing pay-for-performance measures, quality metrics must reliably reflect true differences in performance among the hospitals profiled. METHODS We used State Inpatient Databases from nine states to characterize serious complications after elective cervical and thoracolumbar fusion. Hierarchical logistic regression was used to risk-adjust differences in case mix, along with variability from low case volumes. The reliability of this risk-stratified complication rate (RSCR) was assessed as the variation between hospitals that was not due to chance alone, calculated separately by fusion type and year. Finally, we estimated the proportion of hospitals that had sufficient case volumes to obtain reliable (>0.7) complication estimates. RESULTS From 2010 to 2017 we identified 154,078 cervical and 213,133 thoracolumbar fusion surgeries. 4.2% of cervical fusion patients had a serious complication, and the median RSCR increased from 4.2% in 2010 to 5.5% in 2017. The reliability of the RSCR for cervical fusion was poor and varied substantially by year (range 0.04-0.28). Overall, 7.7% of thoracolumbar fusion patients experienced a serious complication, and the RSCR varied from 6.8% to 8.0% during the study period. Although still modest, the RSCR reliability was higher for thoracolumbar fusion (range 0.16-0.43). Depending on the study year, 0% to 4.5% of hospitals had sufficient cervical fusion case volume to report reliable (>0.7) estimates, whereas 15% to 36% of hospitals reached this threshold for thoracolumbar fusion. CONCLUSION A metric of serious complications was unreliable for benchmarking cervical fusion outcomes and only modestly reliable for thoracolumbar fusion. When assessed using administrative datasets, these measures appear inappropriate for high-stakes applications, such as public reporting or pay-for-performance.Level of Evidence: 3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob K. Greenberg
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
| | - Margaret A. Olsen
- Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
| | - John Poe
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Christopher F Dibble
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
| | - Ken Yamaguchi
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
- Centene Corporation, St. Louis, MO
| | - Michael P Kelly
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
| | - Bruce L Hall
- Department of Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
| | - Wilson Z. Ray
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
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Kallus N, Pennicooke B, Santacatterina M. More robust estimation of average treatment effects using kernel optimal matching in an observational study of spine surgical interventions. Stat Med 2021; 40:2305-2320. [PMID: 33665870 DOI: 10.1002/sim.8904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Revised: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW), which has been used to estimate average treatment effects (ATE) using observational data, tenuously relies on the positivity assumption and the correct specification of the treatment assignment model, both of which are problematic assumptions in many observational studies. Various methods have been proposed to overcome these challenges, including truncation, covariate-balancing propensity scores, and stable balancing weights. Motivated by an observational study in spine surgery, in which positivity is violated and the true treatment assignment model is unknown, we present the use of optimal balancing by kernel optimal matching (KOM) to estimate ATE. By uniformly controlling the conditional mean squared error of a weighted estimator over a class of models, KOM simultaneously mitigates issues of possible misspecification of the treatment assignment model and is able to handle practical violations of the positivity assumption, as shown in our simulation study. Using data from a clinical registry, we apply KOM to compare two spine surgical interventions and demonstrate how the result matches the conclusions of clinical trials that IPTW estimates spuriously refute.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Kallus
- School of Operations Research and Information Engineering and Cornell Tech, Cornell University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Brenton Pennicooke
- Department of Neurosurgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Michele Santacatterina
- The Biostatistics Center, Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Rockville, Maryland, USA
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Harris A, Guadix SW, Riley LH, Jain A, Kebaish KM, Skolasky RL. Changes in racial and ethnic disparities in lumbar spinal surgery associated with the passage of the Affordable Care Act, 2006-2014. Spine J 2021; 21:64-70. [PMID: 32768655 DOI: 10.1016/j.spinee.2020.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Revised: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND CONTEXT Since implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010, more Americans have health insurance, and many racial/ethnic disparities in healthcare have improved. We previously reported that Black and Hispanic patients undergo surgery for spinal stenosis at lower rates than do white patients. PURPOSE To assess changes in racial/ethnic disparities in rates of lumbar spinal surgery after passage of the ACA. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective analysis. PATIENT SAMPLE Approximately 3.2 million adults who underwent lumbar spinal surgery in the US from 2006 through 2014. OUTCOME MEASURES Racial disparities in discharge rates before versus after ACA passage. METHODS Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, the U.S. Census Bureau Current Population Survey Supplement, and International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification, criteria for definite lumbar spinal surgery, we calculated rates of lumbar spinal surgery as the number of hospital discharges divided by population estimates and stratified patients by race/ethnicity after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. Calendar years were stratified as before ACA passage (2006-2010) or after ACA passage (2011-2014). Poisson regression was used to model hospital discharge rates as a function of race/ethnicity before and after ACA passage after adjustment for potential confounders. RESULTS All rates are expressed per 1,000 persons. The overall median discharge rate decreased from 1.9 before ACA passage to 1.6 after ACA passage (p < .001). After adjustment for sociodemographic factors, the Black:White disparity in discharge rates decreased from 0.40:1 before ACA to 0.44:1 after ACA (p < .001). A similar decrease in the Hispanic:White disparity occurred, from 0.35:1 before ACA to 0.38:1 after ACA (p < .001). CONCLUSION Small but significant decreases occurred in racial/ethnic disparities in hospital discharge rates for lumbar spinal surgery after ACA passage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Harris
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 601 N. Caroline Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Sergio W Guadix
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 601 N. Caroline Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Lee H Riley
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 601 N. Caroline Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Amit Jain
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 601 N. Caroline Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Khaled M Kebaish
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 601 N. Caroline Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Richard L Skolasky
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 601 N. Caroline Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 601 N. Caroline Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
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Siccoli A, de Wispelaere MP, Schröder ML, Staartjes VE. Machine learning-based preoperative predictive analytics for lumbar spinal stenosis. Neurosurg Focus 2020; 46:E5. [PMID: 31042660 DOI: 10.3171/2019.2.focus18723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 02/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVEPatient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) following decompression surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) demonstrate considerable heterogeneity. Individualized prediction tools can provide valuable insights for shared decision-making. The authors aim to evaluate the feasibility of predicting short- and long-term PROMs, reoperations, and perioperative parameters by machine learning (ML) methods.METHODSData were derived from a prospective registry. All patients had undergone single- or multilevel mini-open facet-sparing decompression for LSS. The prediction models were trained using various ML-based algorithms to predict the endpoints of interest. Models were selected by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). The endpoints were dichotomized by minimum clinically important difference (MCID) and included 6-week and 12-month numeric rating scales for back pain (NRS-BP) and leg pain (NRS-LP) severity and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), as well as prolonged surgery (> 45 minutes), extended length of hospital stay (> 28 hours), and reoperations.RESULTSA total of 635 patients were included. The average age was 62 ± 10 years, and 333 patients (52%) were male. At 6 weeks, MCID was seen in 63%, 76%, and 61% of patients for ODI, NRS-LP, and NRS-BP, respectively. At internal validation, the models predicted MCID in these variables with accuracies of 69%, 76%, and 85%, and with AUCs of 0.75, 0.79, and 0.92. At 12 months, 66%, 63%, and 51% of patients reported MCID; the observed accuracies were 62%, 74%, and 66%, with AUCs of 0.68, 0.72, and 0.79. Reoperations occurred in 60 patients (9.5%), of which 27 (4.3%) occurred at the index level. Overall and index-level reoperations were predicted with 69% and 63% accuracy, respectively, and with AUCs of 0.66 and 0.61. In 15%, a length of surgery greater than 45 minutes was observed and predicted with 78% accuracy and AUC of 0.54. Only 15% of patients were admitted to the hospital for longer than 28 hours. The developed ML-based model enabled prediction of extended hospital stay with an accuracy of 77% and AUC of 0.58.CONCLUSIONSPreoperative prediction of a range of clinically relevant endpoints in decompression surgery for LSS using ML is feasible, and may enable enhanced informed patient consent and personalized shared decision-making. Access to individualized preoperative predictive analytics for outcome and treatment risks may represent a further step in the evolution of surgical care for patients with LSS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Victor E Staartjes
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Bergman Clinics, Amsterdam.,3Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Neurosurgery, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; and.,4Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neuroscience Centre, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Switzerland
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Measuring clinically relevant improvement after lumbar spine surgery: is it time for something new? Spine J 2020; 20:847-856. [PMID: 32001385 DOI: 10.1016/j.spinee.2020.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Revised: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND CONTEXT Minimum clinically important difference (MCID) for patient-reported outcome measures is commonly used to assess clinical improvement. However, recent literature suggests that an absolute point-change may not be an effective or reliable marker of response to treatment for patients with low or high baseline patient-reported outcome scores. The multitude of established MCIDs also makes it difficult to compare outcomes across studies and different spine surgery procedures. PURPOSE To determine whether a 30% reduction from baseline in disability and pain is a valid method for determining clinical improvement after lumbar spine surgery. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective analysis of prospective data from a national spine registry, the Quality Outcomes Database. PATIENT SAMPLE There were 23,280 participants undergoing elective lumbar spine surgery for degenerative disease who completed a baseline and follow-up assessment at 12 months. OUTCOME MEASURES Patient-reported disability (Oswestry Disability Index [ODI]), back and leg pain (11-point Numeric Rating Scale [NRS]), and satisfaction (NASS scale). METHODS Patients completed baseline and a 12-month postoperative assessment to evaluate the outcomes of disability, pain, and satisfaction. The change in ODI and NRS pain scores was categorized as met (≥30%) or not met (<30%) percent reduction MCID. The 30% reduction from baseline was compared with a wide range of well-established absolute point-change MCID values. The relationship between 30% reduction and absolute change values and satisfaction were primarily compared using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, area under the curve (AUROC), and logistic regression analyses. Analyses were conducted for overall scores and for disability and pain severity categories and by surgical procedure. RESULTS Thirty percent reduction in ODI and back and leg pain predicted satisfaction with more accuracy than absolute point-change values for the total population and across all procedure categories (p<.001), except for when compared with the highest absolute point-change threshold for leg pain (3.5-point reduction). The largest AUROC differences, in favor of 30% reduction, were found for the lowest disability (ODI 0-20%: 21.8%) and bed-bound disability (ODI 81%-100%: 13.9%) categories. For pain, there was a 3.4%-12.4% and 1.3%-9.8% AUROC difference for no/mild back and leg pain (NRS 0-4), respectively, in favor of a 30% reduction threshold. CONCLUSIONS A 30% reduction MCID either outperformed or was similar to absolute point-change MCID values. Results indicate that a 30% reduction (baseline to 12 months after surgery) in disability and pain is a valid method for determining clinically relevant improvement in a broad spine surgery population. Furthermore, a 30% reduction was most accurate for patients in the lowest and highest disability and lowest pain severity categories. A 30% reduction MCID allows for a standard cut-off for disability and pain that can be used to compare outcomes across various spine surgery procedures.
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Cortical bone trajectory instrumentation provides favorable perioperative outcomes compared to pedicle screws for single-level lumbar spinal stenosis and degenerative spondylolisthesis. J Orthop 2020; 22:146-150. [PMID: 32382216 DOI: 10.1016/j.jor.2020.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To compare perioperative outcomes between cortical bone trajectory (CBT) instrumentation with pedicle screws (PS) in patients undergoing laminectomy and posterolateral fusion for single-level lumbar spinal stenosis, and degenerative grade I spondylolisthesis. Methods A consecutive series of 91 patients from a single institution between January 2017 and July 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Results Patients in CBT group had significantly shorter operative time, lower blood loss and shorter length of stay. Conclusion CBT instrumentation demonstrated favorable perioperative outcomes that may enhance the overall value in patients undergoing laminectomy and posterolateral fusion for single-level lumbar spinal stenosis, and degenerative grade I spondylolisthesis.
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Lewandrowski KU, Dowling Á, de Carvalho PST, Calderaro AL, Dos Santos TS, de Lima E Silva MS, León JFR, Yeung A. Indication and Contraindication of Endoscopic Transforaminal Lumbar Decompression. World Neurosurg 2020; 145:631-642. [PMID: 32201296 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2020.03.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The indications and contraindications to the endoscopic transforaminal approach for lumbar spinal stenosis are not well defined. METHODS We performed a Kaplan-Meier durability survival analysis of patients with the following types of spinal stenosis: type I, central canal; type II, lateral recess; type III, foraminal; and type IV, extraforaminal. The 304 patients comprised 140 men and 164 women, with an average age of 51.68 ± 15.78 years. The average follow-up was 45.3 years (range, 18-90 years). The primary clinical outcome measures were the Oswestry Disability Index, visual analog scale, and the modified Macnab criteria. RESULTS Of 304 study patients, 70 had type I (23.0%) stenosis, 42 type II (13.7%), 151 type III (49.7%), and 41 type IV (13.5%). Excellent outcomes were obtained in 114 patients (37.5%), good in 152 (50.0%), fair in 33 (10.9%), and poor in 5 (1.6%). Kaplan-Meier durability analysis of the clinical treatment benefit with the endoscopic transforaminal decompression surgery showed statistically significance differences (P < 0.0001) on log-rank (Mantel-Cox) χ2 testing between the estimated median (50% percentile) survival times of type I (28 months), type II (53 months), type III (32 months), and type IV (66 months). CONCLUSIONS We recommend stratifying patients based on the underlying compressive disease and the skill level of the endoscopic spine surgeon to decide preoperatively whether more difficult central or complex foraminal stenotic lesions should be considered for alternative endoscopic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai-Uwe Lewandrowski
- Center for Advanced Spine Care of Southern Arizona and Surgical Institute of Tucson, Tucson, Arizona, USA and Visiting Professor, Department Neurosurgery, UNIRIO, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Álvaro Dowling
- Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon, Director of Endoscopic Spine Clinic, Santiago, Chile and Visiting Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, USP, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | | | - André Luiz Calderaro
- Centro Ortopedico Valqueire, Departamento de Full Endoscopia da Coluna Vertebral, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | | | - Jorge Felipe Ramírez León
- Fundación Universitaria Sanitas, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia; Research Team, Centro de Columna, Bogotá, Colombia; Centro de Cirugía de Mínima Invasión, CECIMIN-Clínica Reina Sofía, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Anthony Yeung
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico; Associate, Desert Institute for Spine Care, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
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Regional Variance in Disability and Quality-of-Life Outcomes After Surgery for Grade I Degenerative Lumbar Spondylolisthesis: A Quality Outcomes Database Analysis. World Neurosurg 2020; 138:e336-e344. [PMID: 32113995 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2020.02.117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Regional differences in outcomes after spine surgery are poorly understood. We assessed disability and quality-of-life outcomes by geographic region in the United States using the NeuroPoint Alliance Quality Outcomes Database. METHODS We queried the prospective Quality Outcomes Database patient registry to identify patients who underwent elective 1- or 2-level lumbar surgery for grade I degenerative spondylolisthesis from July 2014 through June 2016. Primary outcome measures included Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and EuroQOL-5D (EQ-5D) reported at 24 months postoperatively. Differences in EQ-5D and ODI were compared across geographic regions of the United States (Northeast, Midwest, South, West). RESULTS We identified 608 patients from 12 centers who underwent surgery. Of these, 517 (85.0%) had ODI data and 492 (80.9%) had EQ-5D data at 24 months. Southern states had the largest representation (304 patients; 5 centers), followed by Northeastern (114 patients; 3 centers), Midwestern (96 patients; 2 centers), and Western (94 patients; 2 centers) states. Baseline ODI scores were significantly different among regions, with the South having the greatest baseline disability burden (Northeast: 40.9 ± 16.9, South: 51.2 ± 15.8, Midwest: 40.9 ± 17.8, West: 45.0 ± 17.1, P < 0.001). The change in ODI at 24 months postoperatively was significantly different among regions, with the South showing the greatest ODI improvement (Northeast: -21.1 ± 18.2, South: -26.5 ± 20.2, Midwest: -18.2 ± 22.9, West: -21.7 ± 19.6, P < 0.001). All regions had ≥60% achievement of the minimum clinically important difference in ODI at 24 months postoperatively. No regional differences were observed for EQ-5D. CONCLUSION Significant regional variation exists for disability outcomes, but not quality of life, at 24 months after spinal surgery for grade I degenerative spondylolisthesis.
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Dominguez JF, Kalakoti P, Chen X, Yao K, Lee NK, Shah S, Schmidt M, Cole C, Gandhi C, Al-Mufti F, Bowers CA. Medicaid payer status and other factors associated with hospital length of stay in patients undergoing primary lumbar spine surgery. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2020; 188:105570. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2019.105570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2019] [Revised: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Dowling Á, Lewandrowski KU, da Silva FHP, Parra JAA, Portillo DM, Giménez YCP. Patient selection protocols for endoscopic transforaminal, interlaminar, and translaminar decompression of lumbar spinal stenosis. JOURNAL OF SPINE SURGERY 2020; 6:S120-S132. [PMID: 32195421 DOI: 10.21037/jss.2019.11.07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Background The indications of different endoscopic and endoscopically assisted translaminar approaches for lumbar spinal stenosis are not well-defined, and validated protocols for the use of the transforaminal over the interlaminar approach are lacking. Methods We performed a retrospective study employing an image-based patient stratification protocol of stenosis location (type I-central canal, type II-lateral recess, type III-foraminal, type IV-extraforaminal) and clinical outcomes on 249 patients consisting of 137 (55%) men and 112 (45%) women with an average age of 56.03±16.8 years who underwent endoscopic surgery for symptomatic spinal stenosis from January 2013 to February 2019. The average follow-up of 38.27±27.9 months. The primary clinical outcome measures were the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and modified Macnab criteria. Results The frequency of stenosis configuration in decreasing order was as follows: type I-121/249; 48.6%, type III-104/249; 41.8%, type II-15/249; 6%, and type IV-9/249; 3.6%. The transforaminal approach (137/249; 55.0%) was used in most type II to IV lesions followed by the interlaminar approach (78/249; 31.3%), and the full endoscopic approach (12/249; 4.8%), and the endoscopically assisted translaminar approach (8/249; 3.2%) which was exclusively used for type I lesions. Macnab outcomes analysis showed Excellent in 47 patients (18.9%), Good in 178 (71.5%), Fair in 18 (7.2%) and Poor in 6 (2.4%), respectively. Paired two-tailed t-test showed statistically significant VAS (5.46±2.1; P<0.0001) and ODI (37.1±16.9; P<0.0001) reductions as a result of the endoscopic decompression surgery. Cross-tabulation of the Macnab outcomes versus the endoscopic approach and surgical technique confirmed beneficial association of the approach selection with Excellent (P=0.001) and Good (P<0.0001) outcomes with statistically significance. Conclusions This study suggests that in the hands of skilled endoscopic spines surgeon use of an image-based stenosis location protocol may contribute to obtaining Excellent and Good clinical outcomes in a high percentage (93%) of patients suffering from lumbar stenosis related radiculopathy. Additional comparative studies should examine the prognostic value of choosing the endoscopic approach on the basis of the proposed four-type stenosis protocol by correlating its impact on outcomes with preoperative diagnostic injections and intraoperative direct visualization of symptomatic pain generators under local anesthesia and sedation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Álvaro Dowling
- Department of Spine Surgery, Endoscopic Spine Clinic, Santiago, Chile.,Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, USP, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Kai-Uwe Lewandrowski
- Center for Advanced Spine Care of Southern Arizona and Surgical Institute of Tucson, Tucson AZ, USA.,Department Neurosurgery, UNIRIO, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Fabio Henrique Pinto da Silva
- Department of Orthopaedics, Marcilio Dias Navy Hospital, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Department of Orthopaedics, DWS Spine Clinic Center Santiago, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jaime Andrés Araneda Parra
- Department of Orthopaedics, DWS Spine Clinic Center Santiago and Roberto Del Rio Hospital, Santiago, Chile
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Abstract
STUDY DESIGN Health Services Research. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to determine the variability of Medicaid (MCD) reimbursement for patients who require spine procedures, and to assess how this compares to regional Medicare (MCR) reimbursement as a marker of access to spine surgery. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA The current health care environment includes two major forms of government reimbursement: MCD and MCR, which are regulated and funded by the state and federal government, respectively. METHODS MCD reimbursement rates from each state were obtained for eight spine procedures, utilizing online web searches: anterior cervical decompression and fusion, posterior cervical decompression and fusion, posterior lumbar decompression, single-level posterior lumbar fusion, posterior fusion for deformity (less than six levels; six to 12 levels; 13+ levels), and lumbar microdiscectomy. Discrepancy in reimbursement for these procedures on a state-to-state basis, as well as overall differences in MCD versus MCR reimbursement, was determined. Procedures were examined to identify whether certain surgical interventions have greater discrepancy in reimbursement. RESULTS The average MCD reimbursement was 78.4% of that for MCR. However, there was significant variation between states (38.8%-140% of MCR for the combined eight procedures). On average, New York, New Jersey, Florida, and Rhode Island provided MCD reimbursements <50% of MCR reimbursements in the region. In total, 20 and 42 states provided <75% and 100% of MCR reimbursements, respectively. Based upon relative reimbursement, MCD appears to value microdiscectomy (84.1% of MCR; P = 0.10) over other elective spine procedures. Microdiscectomy also had the most interstate variation in MCD reimbursement: 39.0% to 207.0% of MCR. CONCLUSION Large disparities were found between MCR and MCD when comparing identical procedures. Further research is necessary to fully understand the effect of these significant differences. However, it is likely that these discrepancies lead to suboptimal access to necessary spine care. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4.
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14
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Cherkin DC, Deyo RA, Goldberg H. Time to Align Coverage with Evidence for Treatment of Back Pain. J Gen Intern Med 2019; 34:1910-1912. [PMID: 31243710 PMCID: PMC6712111 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-019-05099-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Revised: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Despite improved knowledge about the benefits and harms of treatments for chronic back pain in the past several decades, there is a large and consequential mismatch between treatments found safe and effective and those routinely covered by health insurance. As a result, care for back pain has, if anything, deteriorated in recent decades-expenses are higher, harms are greater, and use of ineffective treatments is more common. Deficiencies in health care delivery processes and payment models are centrally involved in the failure to improve care for back pain. A key step for accelerating progress is changing insurance coverage policies to facilitate use of the safest and most helpful approaches while discouraging riskier and less effective treatments. Relatively simple changes in reimbursement policies may minimize harm and improve quality of life for many patients with chronic back and similar pain syndromes. Such changes might also reduce health care expenditures because the costs of treatments currently covered by insurance and their associated harms may well outweigh the costs of the relatively safe and effective treatments recommended by current guidelines but poorly covered by insurance. There is no justification for continuing the status quo-patients and clinicians deserve better.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel C Cherkin
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Richard A Deyo
- Department of Family Medicine and Department of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Harley Goldberg
- Spine Care Program, and Complementary and Alternative Medicine Program, Northern California Kaiser Permanente, Oakland, CA, USA.,Family Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
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15
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Hartman J, Granville M, Jacobson RE. The Use of Vertiflex® Interspinous Spacer Device in Patients With Lumbar Spinal Stenosis and Concurrent Medical Comorbidities. Cureus 2019; 11:e5374. [PMID: 31616607 PMCID: PMC6786837 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.5374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of the Vertiflex® interspinous spacer is a recent minimal invasive procedure useful in the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). It is used mostly by interventional pain physicians who can also perform the minimally invasive lumbar decompression (MILD procedure). Previously when a patient had clinical symptomatic neurogenic claudication (NC) and radiologic findings of lumbar stenosis and had failed conservative treatment, the options were decompressive laminectomy, laminectomy with pedicle fixation at one or more levels or laminotomy combined with interlaminar stabilization (Coflex® implant). These procedures were performed by neurosurgeons and orthopedic spine surgeons. However, the majority of patients with LSS are elderly and have multiple comorbidities that can make open spinal surgery, even when limited to one level, an anesthesia risk as well as vulnerable to the risk associated with hospitalization and recovery after spine surgery. The minimally invasive approaches to interspinous stabilization make it possible to treat localized symptomatic stenosis in a broader group of patients that do not want or cannot, have general anesthesia or extensive lumbar surgery, especially in the prone position. This article examines the use of the Vertiflex® implant in an elderly population with significant comorbidities that underwent successful outpatient implantation at one or two levels. In addition, it serves to familiarize spine surgeons about the possibility of using more minimal approaches to treat LSS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Hartman
- Pain Medicine, Spine and Orthopedic Center, Santa Barbara, USA
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