The aim of this paper is to describe the impact of COVID-19 on spine surgery services in a district general hospital in England in order to understand the spinal service provisions that may be required during a pandemic. A prospective cohort study was undertaken between 17 March 2020 and 30 April 2020 and compared with retrospective data from same time period in 2019. We compared the number of patients requiring acute hospital admission or orthopaedic referrals and indications of referrals from our admission sheets and obtained operative data from our theatre software.Aims
Methods
Early cases of cauda equina syndrome (CES) often present with nonspecific symptoms and signs, and it is recommended that patients undergo emergency MRI regardless of the time since presentation. This creates substantial pressure on resources, with many scans performed to rule out cauda equina rather than confirm it. We propose that compression of the cauda equina should be apparent with a limited sequence (LS) scan that takes significantly less time to perform. In all, 188 patients with suspected CES underwent a LS lumbosacral MRI between the beginning of September 2017 and the end of July 2018. These images were read by a consultant musculoskeletal radiologist. All images took place on a 3T or 1.5T MRI scanner at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury, UK, and Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, UK.Aims
Methods
The Magnetic Expansion Control Rod Device (Magec) allows controlled distraction of the immature spine for the treatment of early onset scoliosis. There disparity between the reported distraction on the external adjustment device (EAD) and true distraction achieved has not been commented on to date. This study aims to determine the disparity between ‘true’ (T) and ‘apparent’ (A) distraction. Our secondary aim was to assess truncal growth and development. Thirteen patients underwent an average of 4.4 (3–6) three monthly distractions. The amount of true distraction was determined by measuring the expansion gap on radiographs using the width of the rod as a conversion factor to allow for magnification. The total distraction to date was compared to the amount reported on the EAD. Sitting and standing heights were recorded at each distraction.Aim:
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A systematic review of the current literature to address the debate of the optimal surgical approach for the treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). All studies comparing anterior open instrumented surgery with posterior instrumented surgery in patients with AIS, written in English and published up until February 2010 were included. Electronic databases searched included Medline, PubMed and the Cochrane database using “AIS” and “surgery” as key words. Outcome measures considered to be important were specifically identified in each paper included: Blood loss (ml); operation time (mins); hospital stay (days); curve correction (sagittal and coronal); number of fused levels; pulmonary function, and complications.Study Purpose
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