A comparative study of the outcomes of primary and revision lumbar discectomy surgery

The outcome of surgery for recurrent lumbar disc herniation is debatable. Some studies show results that are comparable with those of primary discectomy, whereas others report worse outcomes. The purpose of this study was to compare the outcome of revision lumbar discectomy with that of primary discectomy in the same cohort of patients who had both the primary and the recurrent herniation at the same level and side.

A retrospective analysis of prospectively gathered data was undertaken in 30 patients who had undergone both primary and revision surgery for late recurrent lumbar disc herniation. The outcome measures used were visual analogue scales for lower limb (VAL) and back (VAB) pain and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI).

There was a significant improvement in the mean VAL and ODI scores (both p < 0.001) after primary discectomy. Revision surgery also resulted in improvements in the mean VAL (p < 0.001), VAB (p = 0.030) and ODI scores (p < 0.001). The changes were similar in the two groups (all p > 0.05).

Revision discectomy can give results that are as good as those seen after primary surgery.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:90–4.

The epidemiology of cervical spondylotic myelopathy

OBJECTIVES

This is an observational study looking at the epidemiology of cervical spondylotic myelopathy of patients presenting to our hospital.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The notes and MRI scans of 41 patients presenting to the Leicester General Hospital with a clinical diagnosis of cervical myelopathy between January 2004 and December 2008 were reviewed retrospectively.

RESULTS

Cervical myelopathy was found to be more common in male patients to the ratio of approximately 2.7:1, with an average age at diagnosis of 63.8 years. Multi-level disease was seen in the majority of patients, with C5/6 being the most commonly affected level.

CONCLUSIONS

Cervical myelopathy predominantly affects men in their 7th decade of life. It is often a multi-level disease with C5/6 being the most commonly affected. It has little in common with cervical radiculopathy and is more analogous to lumber spinal stenosis.

Hormone Replacement Therapy after Endometrial Cancer

Endometrial cancer is the fourth most common female cancer in the UK and the most common gynaecological cancer. Quality of life and symptom control needs to be considered in women who enter a surgically induced menopause. Hormone replacement in this population has been controversial to date. The current evidence regarding the safety of estrogen only and combined hormone replacement therapy is discussed in this review. The use of topical vaginal therapies, alternate therapies and the current data regarding testosterone use for symptom control is also outlined.

The preferences and experiences of different bisphosphonate treatments in women with breast cancer

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to examine women's experiences with oral and intravenous (i.v.) bisphosphonate therapy, the impact that treatment had on bone pain and Quality of Life (QoL), and their preferences if choice were available between oral and i.v. administration.

METHODS

This was a prospective study of women with metastatic breast cancer receiving either oral or i.v. bisphosphonate therapy. Semi-structured interview techniques and QoL questionnaires were employed. Participants in the study were interviewed three times, once in person and twice by telephone.

RESULTS

A total of 79 patients from eight UK hospitals participated in the study; 35 were receiving oral bisphosphonate medication and 44 i.v. treatments. Self-reported adherence to oral therapy was good although 21% had chosen not to take their drugs at some time. Most had adapted their lifestyle to accommodate oral therapy with 29/37(74%) completely satisfied. However 9/37(24%) expressed dissatisfaction with constraints especially the time required to stand upright after taking their tablets. By 6 months 23/25 (91%) of patients receiving (i.v.) therapies were generally satisfied with the frequency and 22/25 (88%) with the convenience especially if given concurrently with chemotherapy. Overall 25/54 (46%) patients reported improved bone pain scores on the validated FACT-BP scale from baseline to 6 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Both oral and i.v. therapies have disadvantages but were acceptable to most patients some of whom had reduced bone pain over time. More data regarding acceptability, adherence, and patients' preference for bisphosphonate therapies are required. Until randomised trials demonstrate superior efficacy for one mode of bisphosphonate therapy over another, we suggest offering patients a choice of bisphosphonate therapy.

Time Dependent Improvement in Survival for Women with Multiple Brain Metastases from HER2 Positive Breast Cancer: The Influence of Systemic Therapy

Background: Women with multiple breast cancer brain metastases (BM) ineligible for neurosurgery or radiosurgery have a poor prognosis and the role of systemic therapy is ill defined.Method: The outcomes for 120 women treated for multiple (≥2) BM between 2002-2008 at this regional cancer centre have been analysed according to time of BM diagnosis (Cohorts (A) 2002-5 & (B) 2006-8) and HER2 status of the primary tumour (+ or -). We have previously shown that A+ patients experienced longer survival than A-, the advantage apparently restricted to a subgroup of A+ who continued trastuzumab after BM diagnosis (Church et al, Am J Clin Oncol 2008, 31(3) 250-4).Results: There was no difference in survival between B- and A- cohorts (B- patients (n=25) survival median 119 days; A- patients (n=53) median survival 118 days; p=0.57). In contrast there was a time dependent improvement in survival favouring B+ patients (n=19, median 520 days,) over A+ patients (n=23, median 148 days, p &lt;0.02). B+ and A+ cohorts differed significantly in the consistency of their exposure to both trastuzumab (T) and chemotherapy (CT) post BM (p&lt;0.02). Subsequently, patients in the B+ cohort was more frequently treated with additional lines of CT and 5 patients in the B+ cohort (versus none in A+) went on to receive second line anti-HER2 therapy (lapatinib).CohortT + CTLines of CT≥ 2LapatinibMedian survival12 month survivalA+ (n=23)39% (9pts)22% (5)0% (o)148 days30%B+ (n=19)79% (15pts)58% (11)26% (5)520 days80% p&lt;0.02p&lt;0.03p&lt;0.02p&lt;0.02 A+ and B+ were not significantly different with regard to presence of systemic metastases (SM) or time from SM to BM (median A+ 304 days; B+ 334, p=0.3)Conclusion: Following our earlier observation on the A+ cohort, the improvement in survival for B+ may reflect increased optimism of patients and physicians regarding the role of systemic therapy. Although no randomised trial has been performed, it is increasingly apparent from these and other data that HER2+ patients with multiple BM benefit from continued incorporation of systemic therapy into clinical management strategies and, at variance with historic experience, survival &gt; 1 year can now be expected. Randomised trials, specifically to identify the best agents to accompany anti-HER2 therapy, will be required to further extend this benefit.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 5092.

Toxicity of concurrent radiotherapy with CMF chemotherapy in the E-CMF adjuvant breast carcinoma regimen

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Background: In the adjuvant management of breast cancer although delivery of radiotherapy (RT) concurrently with anthracyclines is contraindicated, toxicities are acceptable when the chemotherapy regimen used is CMF. The NEAT trial (NEJM 2006; 355:1851- 1862), presented at ASCO in 2003 demonstrated a significant survival advantage for sequential 4x epirubicin and 4x CMF chemotherapy (E- CMF) compared with 6x CMF and was adopted in the UK as a standard regimen. In order to limit treatment duration, RT may be given concurrently with chemotherapy during the CMF phase of treatment. We have reviewed the toxicity associated with this approach. Methods: Retrospective review of all patients treated with concurrent breast RT and CMF chemotherapy as part of the E-CMF regimen in our institution. Toxicities were graded according to the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) toxicity criteria. Confidence intervals were calculated by the binomial method using Stata version 9. Results: 77 patients received concurrent therapy between March 2004 and May 2006. Baseline characteristics; median age: 48, ER positive: 63.5%, HER2 positive: 11.7%, node positive disease: 85.7%. Type of surgery; lumpectomy: 61.0%, mastectomy: 39.0%, nodal dissection: 100%. Chemotherapy delivery; completed without delay: 35.1%, completed therapy with dose reduction/delay: 48.1%, discontinued therapy prematurely due to toxicity 16.8%. Sites of RT; breast: 62.3%, chest wall: 35.1%, axillary nodes: 45.5%, supraclavicular fossa: 36.4%. Schedule of RT; 50Gy/25#: 18.2%, 46/45Gy/20#: 67.6%, 45Gy/15#: 14.3%. Median interval between final dose of epirubicin and start of RT: 55 days. Toxicity; cutaneous grade 3–4 acute radiotherapy toxicity: 31.2% (95%CI 21.1–42.7%); cutaneous infective cellulitis: 14.3% (95%CI 7.4–21.1%); grade 3–4 neutropenia: 54.4% (95%CI 42.8–65.9%); febrile neutropenia requiring hospitalisation: 22.1% (95% CI 13.4–33.0%). The median duration of stay in hospitalised patients was 8 days (range 3–23 days). Conclusions: Toxicities were significantly greater than documented previously for concurrent therapy. RT should not be given concurrently with CMF chemotherapy as part of the E-CMF regimen.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Dupuytren's contracture: an audit of the outcomes of surgery

This multi-centre postal questionnaire study was conducted by the Audit Committee of the BSSH to assess the outcomes of surgery for Dupuytren's Contracture using subjective data provided by 1177 patients at a mean follow-up of 27 (SD 8) months after surgery. Surgery for Dupuytren's contracture achieved a high rate of full, or almost full, correction in 826 patients (75%) but had a high incidence of post-operative patient-reported complications of 46%. A higher complication rate was seen in those patients with worse initial deformities. The rate of contracture recurrence or persistence was 158 of 1037 (15%). The severity of contracture correlated with the final hand function measured using the PEM score. Recurrence was more common in patients with greater initial deformity. Recurrence was less common if good correction was achieved at surgery. The relevance and limitations of this data are discussed.

Blood sampling techniques for lactate and pyruvate estimation: a reappraisal

The effects of venestasis and hand exercise on antecubital vein blood lactate and pyruvate concentrations have been re-examined. The results show that venestasis for up to 5 min has no effect, while hand exercise for as little as 20 s causes a marked increase in blood lactate and pyruvate concentrations. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Effect of water deionisers on 'fracturing osteodystrophy' and dialysis encephalopathy in Plymouth

In the Plymouth area, 95 patients with end-stage renal failure have undergone haemodialysis for 6 months or longer. Of the 47 patients beginning dialysis between 1967 and 1973, when water deionisers were not used routinely, a bone disease with multiple fractures, 'fracturing osteodystrophy', occurred in 18 patients and dialysis encephalopathy in 10. Of the 48 patients first dialysing between 1974 and 1979, when water deionisers used commonly, fracturing osteodystrophy occurred in only one and dialysis encephalopathy also in only one. Duration of dialysis without a water deioniser appeared to be the most important factor in the development of these two conditions. The use of water deionisers usually led to healing of fractures in patients with fracturing osteodystrophy and also led to improvement in 4 of the 11 patients with dialysis encephalopathy. Neither condition has occurred in any patient using a water deioniser from the first dialysis. Water deionisers, therefore, appeared to be effective in both the treatment and prevention of fracturing osteodystrophy and dialysis encephalopathy.