Spinal surgery in patients with Parkinson's disease: unsatisfactory results, failure and disappointment

Previous studies on spinal surgery in PD patients report an exceptionally high rate of complications. Failure and re -operation are frequent outcomes. This is a retrospective case series with the aim of establishing the rate of complications in patients with concomitant Parkinson’s disease.

Ten patients were subjected to spinal surgery from 2005 to 2009. The indications and type of operation varied. Cases of Failed Back Surgery and re-operation were sought. Follow – up was between 6 – 42 months. All 10 patients presented some clinical or radiological complication. The most common complications were screw pull – out and progressive spinal deformity. Re – operations were performed in 5 patients, while clinical and radiological results were poor in the majority of cases. Patients with Parkinson’s disease have a very high complication rate and often have to undergo revision surgery. This particular group of patients should be informed of the increased risk of failure and be closely followed – up on a regular basis.

The use of thoracoplasty in the surgical treatment of idiopathic scoliosis

INTRODUCTION

Rib prominence on the convex side results from vertebral rotation. The cosmetic deformity of the back in scoliosis is only partially corrected by operations on the spine itself, whilst costoplasty addresses the problem directly, and improves the cosmesis.

PURPOSE

Our experience in convex and concave side thoracoplasty is discussed.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The selection of the patients for thoracoplasty was done primarily taking into consideration the cosmetic disturbance of the rib hump and the consequences to the psychism of the patient. A total of 35 scoliotic patients (32 females and 3 males) with mean age 18.8 years underwent thoracoplasty in combination with posterior spinal fusion. In 23 patients (3 males and 20 females) convex side thoracoplasty (rib resection at the site of the hump) was done as a first stage procedure (18 patients) or a second stage procedure (5 patients). In the patients with spinal fusion at the same time, the resected ribs were used as bone graft. 12 female patients were treated with concave side thoracoplasty (osteotomies of the medial part of the ribs and elevation of the ribs on the instrumentation rod) as a first stage procedure combined with spinal fusion, while in one 22 female patient both side thoracoplasty was done as a second stage procedure.

CONCLUSION

Either form of thoracoplasty was an effective and impressive way to improve the patient's appearance although it was not possible to quantify the results. The complications that were presented viz. 4 haemopneumothorax, 2 pneumothorax, 2 pneumonia) were treated successfully.

Instrumentation loosening and material of implants as predisposal factors for late postoperative infections in operated idiopathic scoliosis

INTRODUCTION

Instrumentation loosening and metal corrosion are predisposal factors under investigation for late Postoperative infections.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

To investigate the contribution of the instrumentation material (stainless steel versus titanium implants) and the mechanical loosening in the development of late postoperative spinal infection.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The first group of patients involves 50 idiopathic scoliotic patients who were treated with first generation posterior stainless steel spinal segmental multihook instrumentation. The minimum post operative follow up was 4 years. Five patients presented with late infections 1 to 5 years post operatively. Removal of instrumentation was the effective solution to this problem. Common intraoperative findings were some degree of instrumentation loosening and corrosion. The second group involves 40 idiopathic scoliotic patients who were treated with newer generation posterior titanium spinal segmental multihook-multiscrew instrumentation system. More extensive use of pedicle screws was performed to the second group resulting in a more stable mechanical construct. Follow up ranged from 2 to 5 years. None of those patients presented late postoperative infection or any evidence of instrumentation loosening or failure.

CONCLUSION

We believe that newer multihook-multiscrew titanium spinal instrumentation systems have smaller incidence of late postoperative infections because they provide a more stable construct (pedicle screws) with fewer tendencies for micro motion or failure, and they may give the advantage of greater bone adhesion on the implant resulting in the production of thinner biofilm, thus decreasing the chances of infection.

Risk factors for idiopathic scoliosis: review of a 6-year prospective study

This study identified factors associated with the prevalence of idiopathic scoliosis and curve evolution in schoolchildren from northwestern and central Greece. A total of 85,627 children aged 9-15 years were screened for scoliosis. A subset of children with curves of at least 10 degrees underwent clinical and radiographic follow-up. The total population screened and the cohort followed for curve progression were evaluated according to factors associated with curve evolution. The prevalence of scoliosis was 1.7%, with most cases appearing at ages 13 and 14 years and small scoliotic curves (10 degrees-19 degrees) being most prevalent (prevalence 1.5%). Prevalence was associated with gender; age; and magnitude, apex, and direction of the curve. Progression of the curve occurred in 14.7% of 839 children, while 27.4% demonstrated spontaneous improvement of at least 5 degrees. A high risk of curve progression was associated with the following: sex--girls, curve pattern--right thoracic and double curves in girls and right lumbar in boys, maturity--girls before the onset of menses, age--time of pubertal growth spurt, and curve magnitude--curves > or = 30 degrees. Although only a small percentage of scoliotic curves undergo progression, the pattern of the curve according to curve direction and the sex of the child plays a significant role in the ability to identify which curves will progress.

Assessment of curve progression in idiopathic scoliosis

In a 5-year prospective study on idiopathic scoliosis, an attempt was made to elucidate the natural history of the disease and to determine which factors contribute to curve progression. A total of 85,622 children were examined for scoliosis in a prospective school screening study carried out in northwestern and central Greece. Curve progression was studied in 839 of the 1,436 children with idiopathic scoliosis of at least 10 degrees detected from the school screening program. Each child was followed clinically and roentgenographically for one to four follow-up visits for a mean of 3.2 years. Progression of the scoliotic curve was recorded in 14.7% of the children. Spontaneous improvement of at least 5 degrees was observed in 27.4% of them, with 80 children (9.5%) demonstrating complete spontaneous resolution. Eighteen percent of the patients remained stable, while the remaining patients demonstrated nonsignificant changes of less than 5 degrees in curve magnitude. A strong association was observed between the incidence of progression and the sex of the child, curve pattern, maturity, and to a lesser extent age and curve magnitude. More specifically, the following were associated with a high risk of curve progression: sex (girls); curve pattern (right thoracic and double curves in girls, and right lumbar curves in boys); maturity (girls before the onset of menses); age (time of pubertal growth spurt); and curve magnitude (> or = 30 degrees). On the other hand, left thoracic curves showed a weak tendency for progression. In conclusion, the findings of the present study strongly suggest that only a small percentage of scoliotic curves will undergo progression. The pattern of the curve according to curve direction and sex of the child was found to be a key indicator of which curves will progress.

Versatility of TSRH spinal instrumentation system. Experience in 67 patients with trauma and spinal deformities

We evaluated the effectiveness of the TSRH (Texas Scottish Rite Hospital) spinal instrumentation system in treating patients with spinal deformities and trauma to the spine. 38 patients (29 women) with spinal deformities and 29 (13 women) with trauma to the spine underwent fusion using the TSRH implant system. In patients with idiopathic scoliosis, the amount of curve correction achieved varied depending on the curve pattern, where patients with single thoracic (type III) or single extended thoracic (type IV) curves showed an improvement of 54% and 63%, respectively, compared to patients with King type II curves in which correction averaged only 45%. We found the TSRH spinal system to be effective for correcting the scoliotic curve. The fact that no neurologic complications were observed and that patients demonstrated a rapid ability to stand and walk as compared to the lengthy immobilization required with more traditional methods, suggests that the TSRH system is superior for scoliotic curve correction.