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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During the Coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak, while healthcare systems and hospitals are diverting their resources to combat the pandemic, patients who require spinal surgeries continue to accumulate. The aim of this study is to describe a novel hospital capacity versus clinical justification triage score (CCTS) to prioritize patients who require surgery during the "new normal state" of the COVID-19 pandemic. ⋯ This study is a proof of concept for the novel CCTS scoring system to prioritize surgeries to meet the rapidly changing demands of the COVID-19 pandemic. It offers a simple and objective method to stratify patients who require surgery and allows these complex and difficult decisions to be unbiased and made transparently among surgeons and hospital administrators.
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To determine the impact of mechanical stability on the progress of bone ongrowth on the frame surfaces of a titanium-coated polyether ether ketone (TCP) cage and a three-dimensional porous titanium alloy (PTA) cage following posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) until 1 year postoperatively. ⋯ Early postoperative mechanical stability has a positive impact on the progress of bone ongrowth on both the TCP and PTA cage frame surfaces after PLIF.
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This study investigated relationships of Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Short Form 36 (SF-36) total and subscale scores with global spinal parameters in patients with degenerative lumbar scoliosis (DLS). ⋯ ODI total score and most of the subscale scores were significantly, but weakly correlated with coronal parameters. Sagittal parameters were only correlated with some of the ODI and SF-36 subscale scores. Analysis using ODI and SF-36 subscale scores may aid in understanding and treatment of disability in patients with DLS.
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To elucidate the effects of bisphosphonates on complications following posterior lumbar fusion (PLF) with a large database study. ⋯ Bisphosphonate usage did not significantly affect the rates of postoperative complications following posterior lumbar fusion. Further research is required to fully elucidate the effects of bisphosphonates on outcomes and complications following spine surgery.
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Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is a widely accepted surgical procedure for degenerative disk disease. While numerous studies have analyzed complication rates and risk factors this study investigates the extent to which complications after TLIF spondylodesis alter the clinical outcome regarding pain and physical function. ⋯ Our results suggest that major complications with need of revision surgery after TLIF spondylodesis lead to a significantly worse clinical outcome (VAS-B, VAS-L, and ODI) compared to no or minor complications. It is therefore vitally important to raise the surgeon´s awareness of consequences of major complications, and the topic should be given high priority in clinical work.