The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society
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Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) evidence-based protocols for perioperative care have led to improvements in outcomes in numerous surgical areas, through multimodal optimization of patient pathway, reduction of complications, improved patient experience and reduction in the length of stay. ERAS represent a relatively new paradigm in spine surgery. ⋯ Based on the best evidence available for each ERAS item within the multidisciplinary perioperative care pathways, the ERAS® Society presents this comprehensive consensus review for perioperative care in lumbar fusion.
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Correction of adult spinal deformity (ASD) by long segment instrumented spinal fusion is an increasingly common surgical intervention. However, it is associated with high rates of complications and revision surgery, especially in the elderly patient population. The high construct stiffness of instrumented thoracolumbar spinal fusion has been postulated to lead to a higher incidence of proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) and failure (PJF). Several cadaveric biomechanical studies have reported on surgical techniques to reduce the incidence of PJF/PJK. As yet, no overview has been made of these biomechanical studies. ⋯ A variety of techniques, involving either posterior semi-rigid junctional fixation or the reinforcement of vertebral bodies, has been biomechanically assessed. However, the low number of studies and variation in study protocols hampers direct comparison of different techniques. Furthermore, determination of what constitutes an optimal gradual transition zone and its translation to clinical practice, would aid comparison and further development of different semi-rigid junctional fixation techniques. Even though biomechanics are extremely important in the development of PJK/PJF, patient-specific factors should always be taken into account on a case-by-case basis when considering to apply a semi-rigid junctional fixation technique.
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Correction of adult spinal deformity (ASD) by long segment instrumented spinal fusion is an increasingly common surgical intervention. However, it is associated with high rates of complications and revision surgery, especially in the elderly patient population. The high construct stiffness of instrumented thoracolumbar spinal fusion has been postulated to lead to a higher incidence of proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) and failure (PJF). Several cadaveric biomechanical studies have reported on surgical techniques to reduce the incidence of PJF/PJK. As yet, no overview has been made of these biomechanical studies. ⋯ A variety of techniques, involving either posterior semi-rigid junctional fixation or the reinforcement of vertebral bodies, has been biomechanically assessed. However, the low number of studies and variation in study protocols hampers direct comparison of different techniques. Furthermore, determination of what constitutes an optimal gradual transition zone and its translation to clinical practice, would aid comparison and further development of different semi-rigid junctional fixation techniques. Even though biomechanics are extremely important in the development of PJK/PJF, patient-specific factors should always be taken into account on a case-by-case basis when considering to apply a semi-rigid junctional fixation technique.