Short-segment versus Long-segment Stabilization for Unstable Thoracolumbar Junction Burst Fractures

The treatment of unstable thoracolumbar junction burst fractures remains a controversial issue. We evaluate the efficacy of short segment (SS) compared with that of long-segment (LS) stabilization in terms of clinical and the radiological outcomes. Records of 88 patients with thoracolumbar burst fracture underwent posterior pedicle screw fixation from January 2004 to December 2015, studied retrospectively. These patients were divided into two groups: SS and the LS-group. Clinical parameters: back pain, disability, neurological deficit and radiologic parameters: Cobb angle, sagittal index, the kyphotic deformation of vertebral body, vertebral height and canal compromise were measured before surgery and immediately after surgery and at 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Overall outcomes were evaluated using the modified Mcnab criteria at the last follow-up. Chi-squared test and paired-t test were used for statistical analysis using SPSS. There were 36 and 52 patients in the SS and LS- group, respectively. The mean age of the patients was 30.6±8.4 and 33.4±8.4 years and the mean follow-up period was 24.5 and 16.8 months in SS and LS-group respectively. In the SS-group, the fractured vertebral body level was L1, T12, L2, T11 and T10 in 15, 10, 6, 3 and 2 cases and LS- group, the fractured vertebral body level was L1, T12, L2, T11 and T10 in 22, 17, 5, 5 and 3 cases, respectively. Both groups achieved satisfactory clinical outcomes according to the modified Mcnab criteria. In the SS-group, 8(22.22%), 21(58.33%) and 7(19.44%) cases were considered to have excellent, good and fair outcome and LS-group, 18(34.61%), 25(48.08%), 6(11.54%) and 3(5.77%) cases were considered to have excellent, good, fair, and poor outcome, respectively. Short-segment pedicle screw fixation including the fractured vertebral body might be as effective as long-segment pedicle screw fixation for the treatment of unstable thoracolumbar junction burst fracture.

Open-door Laminoplasty for Multilevel Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy and Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament (OPLL) using Titanium Reconstruction Miniplate and Screws

To review outcome of 25 patients who underwent open-door cervical laminoplasty for multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy (MCSM) and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) using titanium reconstruction miniplate and screws. Records of 18 men and 7 women aged 35 to 78 (mean, 62.6) years were reviewed retrospectively from October 2009 and October 2014 at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) and in our private settings, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Four patients had 5 levels (C3-C7), 21 patients had 4 levels (C3-C6) decompression and 3 patients (12%) performed foraminotomies. A total of 104 laminae were opened, all of them were fixed with a titanium reconstruction miniplates. In 21 patients, a 20-hole titanium miniplate bent to the contour of a lamina was used and fixed into 4 laminae and 4 patients fixed in 5 laminae levels. In most patients, screw fixation was unicortical and no spacer or bone graft was used. Demographic and surgical data were collected and clinical outcomes were assessed with neck pain score, neck disability index and Nurick's grading. Outcome analysis was done using Odom's criteria. The mean follow-up duration was 1.8 (range, 1-5) years. Diagnoses were MCSM (n=20), OPLL (n=5). Mean estimated blood loss (EBL) was 120ml (range: 50-200), mean surgery time was 153 min (range: 75-240). Following Nurick's grading, 23 patients (92%) improved, 2 (08%) had the same Nurick grade. No intraoperative complications were noted and average hospital stay was 6.12 days (range: 5 to 9). Significance improvements in overall NDI scores occurred at 1 year follow up (p<0.002). Radiographic evaluation showed an increase in the mean sagittal diameter from 13.3mm at pretreatment to 19.4mm post surgery. Two patients developed transient C5 palsy. Open-door Laminoplasty technique is safe, easy and achieves a good canal expansion and neurological recovery and can be used as an alternative treatment for cases of MCSM and OPLL patients without instability.

Posterior fixation including the fractured vertebra in short segment fixation of unstable thoracolumbar junction burst fractures

<p>The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of inclusion of the fractured vertebra in short segment fixation in terms of clinical and the radiological outcomes in unstable thoracolumbar junction burst fractures at a minimum of 1 year follow-up. Records of 52 patients (age: 21-50 years) with thoracolumbar burst fracture (T10–L2) in Magerl Type A fractures underwent posterior pedicle screw fixation including the fractured vertebra. Clinical parameters were back pain using Visual Analogue Score (VAS) and disability using Oswestry disability index (ODI), neurological deficit (using ASIA grade) and radiologic parameters (Cobb angle, the kyphotic deformation and vertebral height) were measured before surgery and at 3, 6 and 12 months  post-operatively. The presence of screw breakage, screw pullout, peri-implant loosening, and rod breakage were considered as criteria for implant failure. The majority of fractures resulted due to falls (31 cases), and the remaining cases resulted from car accidents (21 cases). The fractured vertebral body level was L1, T12, L2, T11, and T10 in 23, 17, 6, 4 and 2 cases and achieved satisfactory clinical outcomes according to the modified Mcnab criteria 18, 25, 6 and 3 cases were considered to have excellent, good, fair, and poor outcome. The mean kyphotic angle at pre-, post-operative and final follow-up was 13.5 ± 6.3, 13.4 ± 4.3, 8.5 ± 6.  The average loss of kyphosis correction was 6.4 ± 5.2° at the final follow-up. The mean pre- and post-operative kyphotic deformation of vertebral body was 5.1 ± 3.2, 4.8 ± 2.3 and at final follow-up was 4.5 ± 4.0 (p&gt;0.05). The mean anterior and posterior vertebral height also showed significant improvements post-operatively, which were maintained at the final follow-up. The mean ODI and VAS scores at the end of 1 year were 17.4%, 1.7 respectively. There was no case of major complication after surgery and during the follow-up period. In conclusion, reduction of unstable thoracolumbar junction burst fracture can be achieved and maintained with the use of short-segment pedicle screw fixation including the fractured vertebra, avoiding the need for anterior reconstruction.</p><p> </p>

Surgical Outcome of Intradural Spinal Tumors

Results of 63 surgically treated intradural spinal tumors between the period of October 2003 and December 2014 at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) and in our private settings, Dhaka, were analyzed retrospectively. There were 33 males, 30 females with an average age of 52.4 years (13-70 years) and followed up for at least a year. The preoperative symptom with duration, tumors location and intradural space occupancy and the histopathological diagnosis were analyzed. Pain was evaluated by the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the neurologic function was assessed by Nurick's grade. The tumors were located as, thoracic (n=32, 50.79%), lumbar (n=16, 25.39%), cervical (n=05, 07.93%), and junctional (n=10, 15.87%, CervicoThoracic-01, Thoracolumbar-09). The histopathological diagnosis included schwannoma (n=30, 47.7%), meningiomas (n=14, 22.3%), neurofibroma, arachnoid cyst and myxopapillary ependymoma (n=03, 04.76%) each and paraganglioma (n=01, 01.59%). Among the intramedullary tumors, ependymoma (n=03, 04.76%), astrocytoma and epidermoid cyst (n=02, 03.17%), haemangioblastoma, paraganglioma and cavernous haemangioma (n=01, 01.59%) each. The VAS score was reduced in all cases from 8.0±1.2 to 1.2±0.8 (p<0.003) and the Nurick's grade was improved in all cases from 3.0±1.3 to 1.0±0.0 (p<0.005). The preoperative neurological deficit improved within 8 postoperative weeks in most cases and within 1 postoperative year in all cases. Complications included cerebrospinal fluid leakage, parasthesia and further neurological deterioration (Astrocytoma) (n=02, 03.17%) and dependant bedsore and recurrence (Ependymoma) (n=01, 01.59%). Aggressive surgical excision potentially minimizes neurologic morbidity and improved outcome except intramedullary tumors where initial treatment consists of maximum safe surgical resection or biopsy.

Outcome of symptomatic upper lumbar disc herniation

"Upper" lumbar disc herniations (LDH) are different from the "lower" and possess increased chance of neural compromise and cauda equina syndrome that necessitates operative management despite of contradictory surgical outcome. We underwent the study to assess the clinical and functional outcome of symptomatic upper LDH surgery from July 2003 to June 2012 in BSMMU, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The records of 123 patients (age range, 30-69 years), 56 men and 67 women (mean 52 years) having upper lumbar discectomy were reviewed. The surgical time, intra-operative blood loss, self evaluated back pain and thigh and/or groin pain status [using Visual Analogue Score (VAS)] and the disability status [using Oswestry disability (ODI) questionnaire] was analyzed. Radiological stability (using Posner's criteria), functional outcome [using Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) Score] and overall outcome (using MacNab`s criteria), was calculated. Chi-squared test and z-test using SPSS revealed mean operative time and mean blood loss had no significant (p>0.05) difference. Pain, sensory, motor and reflex status as well as VAS, ODI and all the components of JOA questionnaire had significant (p<0.05) improvement. In spite of intra-operative complications in 20.32% cases, overall satisfactory outcome was achieved in 83.74% cases. The postoperative complications (08.13%) could be managed conservatively. However, carefully decided surgical alternatives resulted in satisfactory clinical and functional outcome in upper LDH surgery.

Relationship between physical work load and lumbar disc herniation

Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is a disabling problem. This retrospective case control study was done to evaluate the possible relevance of physical work load with Lumbar Disc Herniation. We have performed this study in the Spinal Surgery Unit of Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at BSMMU, Dhaka from July 2007 to June 2010 where 200 cases with Lumbar Disc Herniation and 200 control subjects matched by age, gender and area of residence were taken and analyzed. Chi-square test was computed for sex, area of residence, type of physical work and effort at work, whereas Odds ratio was computed for physical work load, stress at work and daily working period. The highest odds ratio (OR) was with the physical work load (OR: 03.48, CI: 01.84-06.59), hard work (OR: 03.14, CI: 01.74-05.65) and working period of >8 hours (OR: 01.34, CI: 0.75-02.38). Odds ratio for heavy load carrying at work was 03.48 and less job satisfaction or stress at work was 02.45. There was a statistically significant positive association between cumulative exposure of physical work load and lumbar disc herniation indicating an increased occurrence of herniation in heavy physical work load and occupation requiring harder efforts.

Discectomy for primary and recurrent prolapse of lumbar intervertebral discs

PURPOSE

To reviewed 416 patients who underwent discectomy for primary or recurrent prolapse of lumbar intervertebral discs (PLID).

METHODS

Records of 296 men and 102 women aged 19 to 60 (mean, 39) years who underwent discectomy for a primary PLID, and 14 men and 4 women aged 28 to 50 (mean, 40) years who underwent revision discectomy for a recurrent ipsilateral (n=14) or contralateral (n=4) PLID at L4-5 (n=14), L5-S1 (n=3), or L3-4 (n=1) were reviewed. The pain-free interval, side and degree of herniation, operating time, length of hospital stay, and pre- and post-operative visual analogue score (VAS) for pain were recorded. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the modified Macnab criteria and the Oswestry Disability Index.

RESULTS

Patients were followed up for one to 4 years. The mean operating time was significantly longer in revision discectomy (65 vs. 141 minutes, p<0.001, unpaired t-test). There was no significant difference between revision and primary discectomy in terms of length of hospital stay or clinical improvement rates. Age, gender, smoking, profession, level and extent of herniation, and pain-free interval did not affect clinical outcomes. In the 18 revision cases, the mean pain-free interval until recurrence was 31 (range, 1-42) months. At the one-year follow-up, results were excellent in 8, good in 6, fair in 3, and poor in one. Three of the patients had persistent pain despite taking analgesics. 14 of the patients had returned to their normal daily activities. Complications included foot drop (n=1), dural tear (n=3), and superficial wound infection (n=1).

CONCLUSION

Discectomy achieved satisfactory results for both primary and recurrent PLIDs.

Treatment of cervical disc prolapse by anterior cervical discectomy fusion and stabilization with plating

Different types of surgical techniques are used for effective treatment of cervical disc prolapse. Techniques with fusion without stabilization have some disadvantages like collapse of the graft, extrusion of graft, nonunion and recurrence of symptoms. We have carried out this prospective interventional study between March 2001 to November 2007 on 129 cases of cervical disc prolapse treated with anterior cervical discectomy, fusion & stabilization with plating at IBN SINA Hospital, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Al-Manar Hospital, Lalmatia and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Shahbag, Dhaka. There were 106(82.17%) male and 23(17.82%) female patients. The commonest age group of the patients was 4th decade. The commonest level of disc prolapse was found in C5/6 level and in each case, diagnosis was made on the basis of clinical findings, plain X-ray and MRI of cervical spine. We performed anterior cervical discectomy, fusion and stabilization with plating in all cases. A per-operative marking film was taken in each case to identify proper level. Per-operative undue hemorrhage from donor site occurred in 1 case, 27 patients complained of dysphagia temporarily, 64 patients complained of donor site pain significantly which was relieved within 3-6 months of follow-up period. Donor site infection was found in 1 patient. The post operative follow-up period was 3 months to 6 years. The functional out come obtained excellent in 71.43%, good in 19.64%, fair in 8.93%, poor in 2.32% in this series.