European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society
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To explore the function of endplate epiphyseal ring in OLIF stand-alone surgery using a biomechanical model to reduce the complications of endplate collapse and cage subsidence. ⋯ Endplate collapse is more likely to occur with short half span cages than complete span cages, and taller cages compared with normal height cages. During OLIF surgery, we should choose cages matching intervertebral disc space height and place the cages spanning over the whole epiphyseal ring to improve support strength.
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Being able to quantify the invasiveness of a surgical procedure is important to weigh up its associated risks, since invasiveness governs the blood loss, operative time and likelihood of complications. Mirza et al. (Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 33:2651-2661, 2008) published an invasiveness index for spinal surgery. We evaluated the validity of a modified version of the Mirza invasiveness index (mMII), adapted for use with registry data. ⋯ The mean (± SD) mMII was 3.9 ± 5.0 (range 0-40). A 1-point increase in the mMII was associated with an additional blood loss of 12.8% (95% CI 12.6-13.0; p < 0.001) and an increase of operative time of 10.4 min (95% CI 10.20-10.53; p < 0.001). The R2 for the blood loss model was of 43% and for operative time, 47%. The mean mMII was significantly (p < 0.001) higher in patients with surgical complications (4.5 ± 5.6) and general medical complications (6.5 ± 7.0) compared to those without (3.8 ± 4.9). Our results were comparable to those reported in the original publication of Mirza et al. CONCLUSION: The mMII appeared to be a valid measure of surgical invasiveness in our study population. It can be used in predictor models and to adjust for surgical case-mix when comparing outcomes in different studies or different hospitals/surgeons in a registry.
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Observational Study
Risk of adjacent segment disease after 'topping-off' multi-level lumbar fusions with posterior dynamic stabilisers: an observational cohort study.
To determine whether 'topping-off' lumbar fusions, using posterior dynamic stabilising devices (PDSs) with specific biomechanical parameters, reduces the risk of adjacent segment disease (ASD). ⋯ This large, non-randomised, observational study found an approximately 60% reduction in further surgery for ASD with the use of the PDS to 'top-off' PLIF fusions. PDS device-related complications were very low.
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Multicenter Study
The prone transpsoas technique: preliminary radiographic results of a multicenter experience.
The lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) is a safe and effective technique to treat a vast range of lumbar disorders. However, the technique is also burdened by some problems. A new approach to the lateral lumbar interbody fusion was devised to solve or reduce some of the problems regarding the lateral approach. Its principal difference from the standard LLIF relies on positioning the patient in a prone decubitus, which might lead to an increase in the intradiscal lordosis. ⋯ The prone transpsoas technique is feasible and is associated with a significant gain of segmental lordosis and correction of spinopelvic alignment parameters.