[Clinical and radiographic factors associated with the severity of paraspinal fatty infiltration in patients with degenerative low back disease]

INTRODUCTION

Degenerative lumbar disease (DLE) is a spectrum of pathological changes from disc degeneration, herniated disc, spondylolisthesis and lumbar canal stenosis. The pain associated with it is multifactorial. Muscle cramps are among the most frequent causes. The relationship between muscle degeneration and DLE has already been studied in the past in multiple studies, highlighting the one carried out by Kjaer & cols.

OBJECTIVE

to determine the prevalence and severity of fatty degeneration in mutifidus spinae, and to study its relationship with clinical and radiographic factors.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

observational and analytical study. Patients diagnosed with: herniated disc, lumbar canal stenosis or degenerative scoliosis were included. They were classified according to the Kjaer scale for paraspinal fatty infiltration in one of three groups. Clinical variables were analyzed: age, smoking, obesity, the presence of axial pain, temporality of pain, severity expressed with a visual analog scale (VAS); and radiographic: number of diseased segments, involved segments, diagnostic imaging and the presence of spondylolisthesis.

RESULTS

56 patients with an average age of 52.5 years (16 to 80) with a predominance of females with 62.5% were included. The diagnoses were nonspecific low back pain (1.8%), herniated disc (42.9%), narrow lumbar duct (46.4%) and lumbar duct with degenerative scoliosis deformity (8.9%). The distribution among the three groups described by Kjaer was as follows: 44.6% were classified with a fat infiltration score of 2. In groups 1 and 0, 39.3% and 16.1% were classified respectively. The variables significantly related to greater fat infiltration were: age > 60 years, diagnoses of lumbar canal stenosis and herniated disc; obesity, spondylolisthesis < 2 vertebral segments involved. Axial pain and VAS > 8 points were not related to greater muscle degeneration.

CONCLUSIONS

fatty infiltration is present in all patients with some of the forms of DLE. Most patients > 60 years of age with advanced degenerative processes have a greater severity of infiltration. Other related variables are: obesity, spondylolisthesis and disease of < 2 vertebral segments. There is no relationship between a higher percentage of fatty infiltration and axial pain or higher VAS scores.

A management algorithm for vertebral destruction syndrome by multiple myeloma and metastatic spinal cord compression

INTRODUCTION

Multiple myeloma represents 1% of all cancers and 10% of hematological cancers. Up to 80-90% of cases will have skeletal involvement and the spine is the most frequently involved site. Any intervention must be aimed to improve the patients functional prognosis and will impact their quality of life.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the clinical presentation of vertebral destruction syndrome due to multiple myeloma and to present the management algorithm used for the study and decision-making in treatment.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Study design: Retrospective cross-sectional. A search was made in the hospitals clinical file in search of patients with a histological diagnosis of multiple myeloma attended by the Spinal Surgery Service. Clinical characteristics of the initial presentation were obtained such as: presence of pain, ASIA scale and it was categorized according to the Durie-Salmon classification at diagnosis; the levels involved and type of surgery were described.

RESULTS

The study included ten patients with an average age of 61.4 years, 70% were male subjects. All patients were approach according to the modified protocol for vertebral destruction syndrome and fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous biopsy. Most had pain at diagnosis, after neurologic examination only 30% were classified as ASIA A. Most of the patients were staged III according to Durie Salomon. The most frequently vertebral segment involved was thoracic. In only one patient more than two vertebrae were involved. After diagnosis of multiple myeloma, nine patients were managed according to a NOMS framework. In the majority they were treated with fusion by posterior approach, six of them were augmented with vertebroplasty. Only one patient of the total, was treated with vertebroplasty alone.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of systematized management algorithms will allow better decisions to be made in conjunction with a multidisciplinary group for the care of multiple myeloma with vertebral involvement.