The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society
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Comparative Study
Modified transpedicular approach for the surgical treatment of severe thoracolumbar or lumbar burst fractures.
Conventional transpedicular decompression of the neural canal requires a considerable amount of lamina, facet joint and pedicle resection. The authors assumed that it would be possible to remove the retropulsed bone fragment by carving the pedicle with a high-speed drill without destroying the vertebral elements contributing to spinal stabilization. In this way, surgical treatment of unstable burst fractures can be performed less invasively. ⋯ Although anterior vertebrectomy and fusion is generally recommended for burst fractures causing canal compromise, in these patients adequate neural canal decompression can also be achieved by a modified transpedicular approach less invasively.
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The incidence of violent crimes has risen over the past decade. With it, gunshot injuries have become increasingly more common in the civilian population. Among the most devastating injuries are gunshot wounds to the spine. ⋯ Treatment of gunshot spine fractures differs from other mechanisms. Fractures are usually inherently stable and rarely require stabilization. In neurologically intact patients, there are few indications for surgery. Evidence of acute lead intoxication, an intracanal copper bullet or new onset neurologic deficit can justify operative decompression and/or bullet removal. Overzealous laminectomy can destabilize the spine and lead to late postoperative deformity. For complete and incomplete neural deficits at the cervical and thoracic levels, operative decompression is of little benefit and can lead to higher complication rates than nonsurgically managed patients. With gunshots to the T12 to L5 levels, better motor recovery has been reported after intracanal bullet removal versus nonoperative treatment. The use of steroids for gunshot paralysis has not improved the neurologic outcome and has resulted in a greater frequency of nonspinal complications. Although numerous recommendations exist, 7 to 14 days of broad-spectrum antibiosis has lead to the lowest rates of infection after transcolonic gunshots to the spine.
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Comparative Study
Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with implantable titanium cage: initial impressions, patient outcomes and comparison to fusion with allograft.
The use of metal cage prosthetic devices in anterior cervical discectomy with fusion (ACDF) has increased rapidly. One of these devices is the titanium Rabea cage (Signus, Alzenau, Germany) [correction]. There are no peer-reviewed objective reports on the use of these cages in cervical discectomy. ⋯ This is the first prospective, independently conducted report on Rabea cages. Results of the short-term (6 months) follow-up did not differ from outcomes results in our patients who have undergone ACDF with bone allograft. Although this is a preliminary assessment, the Rabea cage may represent an alternative to bone dowels and hip graft. As is the case for other allografts, artificial or bone, the main advantage is elimination of donor site complications, and the disadvantages include difficulty in radiographic assessment of fusion and potential for cage subsidence.
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Pain anticipated before and induced by physical activities has been shown to influence the physical performance of patients with chronic back pain. Limited data exist as to the influence of treatment on this component of pain. ⋯ Anticipated and induced pain with physical activities was lessened after physical therapy using exercise. Anticipated and induced pain with physical activities related to physical performance levels, global pain and disability ratings. These findings may help explain how exercise exerts a positive influence on chronic back pain and disability.
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Comparative Study
Smoking status and psychosocioeconomic outcomes of functional restoration in patients with chronic spinal disability.
Studies have revealed smoking to have a negative impact on spinal surgery. It is assumed that this is the result of the negative impact of nicotine on revascularization of damaged tissue. However, there is a paucity of research on the role of smoking with regard to nonsurgical rehabilitation, but there exists a clear bias for believing that smoking is strongly associated with poor socioeconomic and psychosocial outcome. ⋯ Contrary to popular belief, CDWRSD patients who smoke do not differ significantly in socioeconomic or psychosocial outcomes relative to those who do not. Although this study does indicate that those who smoke more evidence lower rehabilitation completion rates, those who completed the program had identical 1-year posttreatment outcomes of socioeconomic importance except in retraining work at year end as those who did not smoke. Smokers had slightly higher posttreatment self-reported pain and disability ratings mixed and limited. Overall, there is evidence for the widely held belief that smoking negatively affects tertiary rehabilitation.