Introduction. Microdiscectomies and microdecompressions are traditionally defined as procedures performed with a small incision using magnification. There are no studies in the literature comparing the magnification techniques used in these operations. We compared magnifying loupes and microscopes as the senior author was trained with both instruments and was equally comfortable using both. Materials/Methods. This is a retrospective comparative study involving 51 consecutive patients in group A (loupes) and same number in group B (microscope). The study included all patients who had single level lumbar microdiscectomy or decompression in the period from the 11th of January 2009 to the 6th of April 2010. To avoid any bias, only patients who failed to attend their follow ups were excluded from the study. The senior author operated on all patients. We noted intra-operative and post-operative complications, further interventions, length of surgery and length of hospital stay. We conducted a telephone questionnaire to collect visual analysis score for pre-op and post-op pain and functional status to calculate Macnab's functional status score. 78 patients (75.6%) answered the questionnaire, 39 patients from each group. There was 1
Intrathecal morphine (IM) is a common adjunct in paediatric spinal deformity surgery. We previously demonstrated with idiopathic scoliosis it provides safe and effective analgesia in the immediate postoperative period. This study represents our 25 year experience with IM in all diagnostic groups. Our prospective Pediatric Orthopaedic Spine Database (1993–2018) was reviewed to identify all patients undergoing spinal deformity surgery who received IM and who did not. Patients 21 years of age or less who had a posterior spinal fusion (PSF) with segmental spinal instrumentation (SSI), and received 9–19 mcg/kg (up to 1 mg) of IM were included. Early onset scoliosis surgical patients were excluded. We assessed demographics, pain scores, time to first dose of opioids, diagnoses, surgical time, paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission and IM complications (respiratory depression, pruritus, nausea/ vomiting). There were 986 patients who met inclusion criteria. This included 760 patients who received IM and 226 who did not. IM was not used for short procedures (< 3 hrs), respiratory concerns, unsuccessful access of intrathecal space, paraplegia, and anesthesiologist decision. Both groups followed the same strict perioperative care path. The patients were divided into 5 diagnostic groups (IM / non IM patients): idiopathic (578/28), neuromuscular (100/151), syndromic (36/17), and congenital scoliosis (32/21) and kyphosis (14/9). Females predominated over males (697/289). The first dose of opioids after surgery was delayed for a mean of 10.6 hrs in IM group compared to 2.3 hrs in the non-IM group (p=0.001). The postoperative pain scores were significantly lower in the IM groups in the Post Anesthesia Care Unite (p=0.001). Only 17 IM patients (2%) were admitted to the PICU for observation secondary to respiratory depression, none required re-intubation. None of the IM group were re-intubated. Forty-nine patients (6%) experienced pruritus in the IM group compared to 4 of 226 patients (2%) in the non IM group. There were 169 patients (22%) of the IM patients and 21 patients (9%) of the non IM had nausea and vomiting postoperatively. Three patients (0.39%) had a
Introduction. Given the rising incidence of obesity in the adult population, it is more than likely that orthopaedic surgeons will be treating more obese patients with lumbar disc pathologies. The relationship between obesity and recurrent herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP) following microdiscectomy remains unclear. Objectives. To investigate the relationship between obesity and recurrent HNP following lumbar microdiscectomy. Methods. A retrospective review of case notes from 2008–2011 was conducted for all patients that underwent one level lumbar microdiscectomy, performed by a single surgeon. The standard criteria for microdiscectomy were used. Patient demographics, including Body Mass Index (BMI), collected from notes. Obese patients classified as BMI >/= 30. The primary clinical outcome measure was evidence of recurrent HNP on post operative MRI scan requiring further surgery. Results. A total of 283 patients were available for analysis: 190(67%) were in the non-obese group and 93 (32.9%) in the obese group. The average BMI was 28.1 and the average length of stay was 1.3days.
Objectives. To demonstrate that instrumented fusion of the paediatric cervical spine is possible and can be performed safely. Study Design. A retrospective review of paediatric patients who had instrumented fusion of the cervical spine. Materials and method. Sixteen paediatric patients (10 male, 6 female) with a mean age of 8 years who underwent instrumented cervical fusion were retrospectively reviewed. Surgery was performed for trauma (5 cases), spinal tuberculosis (3 cases), congenital anomalies (6 cases) and malignancies (2 cases). Fixation methods included occipito-cervical fusion, pedicle and lateral mass screws and anterior cervical plating. Ten posterior approaches, four anterior approaches and four combined anterior and posterior approaches were performed. We looked at fusion rates, blood loss, levels fused, theatre time, technique and complications. Results. All patients achieved radiological and clinical fusion. The average number of levels fused was 2.5, blood loss 418ml and theatre time 222 minutes for all patients. Anterior procedures had an average of 1 levels fused, blood loss 117ml and theatre time 98 minutes. Posterior procedures had an average number of 1.9 levels fused, blood loss of 306ml and theatre time of 131 minutes. For the combined anterior and posterior procedures the average levels fused were 5.5, blood loss 975ml and theatre time 248 minutes. Five surgery related complications were encountered. These consisted of
Aim. A retrospective review of the management of giant thoracic discs and report of their outcomes. Method. Giant thoracic disc have been defined as disc compressing more than 60% of the canal diameter. Although discectomy may lead to improvement of clinical symptoms it can be complicated by approach related morbidity especially when discs are calcified. Between 2007 and 2010 there were a total of 7 patients treated with a giant thoracic disc. A retrospective review of demographic data, symptoms, details of surgery, pre and post operative radiology, pre and postoperative Nurick scores, ODI and pain score, length of stay, complications and follow-up data were collected in all patients. Results. The average duration of symptoms was 8.5 months with a mean age of 58 years. Six patients (85%) presented with myelopathy, difficulty in walking and motor weakness. Discs were located at T5/6-2, T7/8-1, T8/9-1, T9/10-2 and T10/11-1 levels. Four (58%) discs were calcified and 3 (42%) were adherent to the dura. The average disc encroachment into the spinal canal was 81% (range: 67%-92%). All patients had a right mini thoracotomy and none of the patients were instrumented. All patients were followed up for a minimal of 24 months (range: 18 to 36 months). Improved Nurick, pain and ODI scores were seen in all patients. Average duration of stay was 4 days (range: 3-9 days). Only one patient had a
Spinal surgery in obese and morbidly obese patients can be challenging to the operating surgeon. One of the major problems is obtaining a good surgical access. We have used the synframe retractor system in patients undergoing spinal fusion and have found it especially useful in obese and morbidly obese patients. This study reports our experience. Seventy-seven consecutive obese and morbidly obese patients that underwent spinal decompression and fusion were reviewed. Patient selection was based on BMI values. Those with a BMI of more than thirty were included in the study. There were thirty-eight females and twenty-five males with an age of twenty-one to eighty-one years. Patient charts were used to acquire information regarding age,weight,height,gender,time in surgery, procedure start and end time,and departure. Postoperative complications and length of hospital stay were also recorded. Anesthesia notes were used to determine ASA scores,number of preoperative morbidities,and intraoperative blood loss. The synframe was used on all the patients. It is a retractor system which consists of a ring placed around the surgical site. It is fixed to both sides of the operating table with arms. Using retractor blades, the ring allows 360 degree access to the surgical exposure from any side. The set up tme for obese patients was 59.8 minutes and 73.5 minutes for morbidly obese patients. The surgical time and blood loss was only marginally higher in these two groups than in normal weighted patients. The average postoperative length of hospitalisation was 5.8 days. The surgical incision length averaged 7.8 cms for single level and 11.5 for two level fusions. 44% patients suffered a complication. These included cage migration due to a fall, wound infection,
Study Design: Retrospective chart review. Objective: To assess the clinical and radiological outcome of surgery for both dystrophic and non-dystrophic curves resulting from neurofibromatosis Type I.:. Subjects: 10 patients (7 females, 3 males) underwent surgical correction for neurofibromatous kypho-scoliosis between 1997–2003. The mean age at surgery was 16 years (range 8–37 years). Average follow-up 20 months (range 9 months – 4.5 years). Seven patients had MRI proven dystrophic curves (group I). These underwent 2–3 level apical vertebrectomy, followed by 2–3 weeks in Halo traction, followed by instrumented posterior spinal fusion and anterior rib strut grafting. Three patients had non-dystrophic curves (group II). Two underwent posterior instrumented fusion and one (aged 8 years) underwent convex epiphyseodesis with posterior Luque trolley. Outcome Measures: Cobb angle, thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, global apical vertebral translation (AVT), regional AVT, coronal and sagittal balance, complications and Modified SRS Outcomes Instrument completed at final follow. Results: For the dystrophic curves the Cobb angle improved from a mean of 81.5 degrees (mean bending film to 76 degrees) to 26.6 degrees post-operatively (68% correction) and 35.8 degrees at final follow-up (56% correction) and the global AVT improved from 61.5 mm to 29 mm at final follow-up. The average score for the modified SRS outcome instrument was 91.6 (Good). For the non-dystrophic curves the Cobb angle improved from a mean of 57.5 degrees (mean bending film to 47 degrees) to 23.5 degrees post-operatively ( 60% correction) and 24.6 degrees at final follow-up (57% correction) and the global AVT improved from 56.8 mm to 27.8 mm at final follow-up. The average score for the modified SRS outcome instrument was 98.5 (Good). All complications occurred in the dystrophic group including superficial infection in 2,