We investigated the incidence of evidence of irritation of the
We have assessed the efficacy of free nerve grafts in 90 cases of
We performed intercostal nerve transfer in 19 patients to relieve pain from preganglionic injury to the
We describe three patients with pre-ganglionic (avulsion) injuries of the
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is the cornerstone investigation for cervical disc disease (CDD). However, MRI changes suggestive of CDD are found in people above forty, even in asymptomatic healthy individuals [1]. Mere presence of MRI changes of CDD does not exclude the presence of concomitant extra-foraminal pathology. No study design. We present here a series of three cases where use of ‘high resolution ultrasound’ has allowed accurate diagnosis of concomitant extra-foraminal pathology in patients with MRI-proven CDD. The three cases were acute neuropraxia of aberrant C5 nerve root, anterior interossous nerve compression due to pseudo-aneurysm of brachial artery and ‘acute brachial neuritis’ respectively. No outcome measure. Use of diagnostic high resolution ultrasound revealed accurate diagnosis of concomitant extra-foraminal pathology in all three cases. The cases with acute neuropraxia and acute brachial neuritis recovered with conservative treatment. Pseudo-aneurysm was treated successfully with surgery. High resolution ultrasound of the
Purpose of the study. To investigate the efficacy of pedicle screw instrumentation in correcting thoracolumbar/lumbar idiopathic scoliosis in adolescent patients. Summary of Background Data. Thoracolumbar/lumbar scoliosis has been traditionally treated through an anterior approach and instrumented arthrodesis with the aim to include in the fusion the Cobb-to-Cobb levels and preserve distal mobile spinal segments. Posterior instrumentation has been extensively used for thoracic or thoracic and lumbar scoliosis. In the advent of all-pedicle screw constructs there is debate on whether thoracolumbar/lumbar scoliosis is best treated through an anterior or a posterior instrumented arthrodesis. Methods. We reviewed the medical notes and radiographs of 19 consecutive adolescent patients with Lenke 5C idiopathic scoliosis (17 female-2 male, prospectively collected single surgeon's series). We measured the scoliosis, thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis angles, apical vertebral rotation (AVR) and translation (AVT), trunk shift (TS), as well as the lower instrumented vertebra angle (LIVA) both pre-and post-operatively and at minimum 2-year follow-up. SRS 22 data was available for all patients. Results. All patients underwent posterior spinal arthrodesis of the primary thoracolumbar/lumbar curve using all-pedicle screw constructs. Mean age at surgery was 15.1 years. We identified 3 separate groups: Group 1 (9 patients) had a fusion to include the preoperative Cobb-to-Cobb levels of the curve; in Group 2 (8 patients) the fusion extended 1-2 levels distal (all patients) +/− proximal (4 patients) to the end Cobb vertebrae; in Group 3 (2 patients) the fusion extended to one level proximal to the lower end Cobb vertebra. Eight patients had compensatory thoracic curves. Mean Cobb angle before surgery was 60.3° (range: 43-91°). This was corrected by 79% to mean 13° (p<0.001) with no patient losing >2° correction at follow-up. Mean preoperative Cobb levels of the thoracolumbar/lumbar curve were 6.3; mean levels of instrumented fusion were 7 (mean extent of fusion: preoperative Cobb angle + 0.7 levels). Mean preoperative thoracic kyphosis was 34.7° and lumbar lordosis 45.3°. Mean postoperative thoracic kyphosis was 36.6° and lumbar lordosis 43°. Mean theatre time was 3.8 hours, hospital stay 7.5 days and intraoperative blood loss 0.26 blood volumes. There were no neurological complications other than one temporary
Purpose of the study. To compare the effectiveness of unilateral and bilateral pedicle screw techniques in correcting adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Summary of Background Data. Pedicle screw constructs have been extensively used in the treatment of adolescent patients with idiopathic scoliosis. It has been suggested that greater implant density may achieve better deformity correction. However, this can increase the neurological risk related to pedicle screw placement, prolong surgical time and blood loss and result in higher instrumentation cost. Methods. We reviewed the medical notes and radiographs of 139 consecutive adolescent patients with idiopathic scoliosis (128 female-11 male, prospectively collected single surgeon's series). We measured the scoliosis, thoracic kyphosis (T5-T12), and lumbar lordosis (L1-L5) before and after surgery, as well as at minimum 2-year follow-up. SRS 22 data was available for all patients. Results. All patients underwent posterior spinal arthrodesis using pedicle screw constructs. Mean age at surgery was 14.5 years. We had 2 separate groups: in Group 1 (43 patients) correction was performed over 2 rods using bilateral segmental pedicle screws; in Group 2 (96 patients) correction was performed over 1 rod using unilateral segmental pedicle screws with the 2. nd. rod providing stability of the construct through 2-level screw fixation both proximal and distal. Group 1. Mean Cobb angle before surgery for upper thoracic curves was 37°. This was corrected by 71% to mean 11° (p<0.001). Mean Cobb angle before surgery for main thoracic curves was 65°. This was corrected by 71% to mean 20° (p<0.001). Mean Cobb angle before surgery for thoracolumbar/lumbar curves was 60°. This was corrected by 74% to mean 16° (p<0.001). No patient lost >2° correction at follow-up. Mean preoperative thoracic kyphosis was 24° and lumbar lordosis 52°. Mean postoperative thoracic kyphosis was 21° and lumbar lordosis 50° (p>0.05). Mean theatre time was 5.5 hours, hospital stay 8.2 days and intraoperative blood loss 0.6 blood volumes. Complications: 1 transient IOM loss/no neurological deficit; 1 deep wound infection leading to non-union and requiring revision surgery; 1 rod trimming due to prominent upper end. Mean preoperative SRS 22 score was 3.9; this improved to 4.5 at follow-up (p<0.001). Pain and self-image demonstrated significant improvement (p=0.001, p<0.001 respectively) with mean satisfaction rate 4.9. Group 2. Mean Cobb angle before surgery for upper thoracic curves was 42°. This was corrected by 52% to mean 20° (p<0.001). Mean Cobb angle before surgery for main thoracic curves was 62°. This was corrected by 70% to mean 19° (p<0.001). Mean Cobb angle before surgery for thoracolumbar/lumbar curves was 57°. This was corrected by 72% to mean 16° (p<0.001). No patient lost >2° correction at follow-up. Preoperative scoliosis size for all types of curves correlated with increased surgical time (r=0.6, 0.4). Mean preoperative thoracic kyphosis was 28° and lumbar lordosis 46°. Mean postoperative thoracic kyphosis was 25° and lumbar lordosis 45° (p>0.05). Mean theatre time was 4.2 hours, hospital stay 8.4 days and intraoperative blood loss 0.4 blood volumes. Complications: 1 deep and 1 superficial wound infections treated with debridement; 1 transient
The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility
of using the intact S1 nerve root as a donor nerve to repair an avulsion
of the contralateral lumbosacral plexus. Two cohorts of patients
were recruited. In cohort 1, the L4–S4 nerve roots of 15 patients
with a unilateral fracture of the sacrum and sacral nerve injury
were stimulated during surgery to establish the precise functional
distribution of the S1 nerve root and its proportional contribution
to individual muscles. In cohort 2, the contralateral uninjured
S1 nerve root of six patients with a unilateral lumbosacral plexus
avulsion was transected extradurally and used with a 25 cm segment
of the common peroneal nerve from the injured leg to reconstruct
the avulsed plexus. The results from cohort 1 showed that the innervation of S1 in
each muscle can be compensated for by L4, L5, S2 and S3. Numbness
in the toes and a reduction in strength were found after surgery
in cohort 2, but these symptoms gradually disappeared and strength
recovered. The results of electrophysiological studies of the donor
limb were generally normal. Severing the S1 nerve root does not appear to damage the healthy
limb as far as clinical assessment and electrophysiological testing
can determine. Consequently, the S1 nerve can be considered to be
a suitable donor nerve for reconstruction of an avulsed contralateral
lumbosacral plexus. Cite this article:
Clinical, radiological, and Scoliosis Research
Society-22 questionnaire data were reviewed pre-operatively and
two years post-operatively for patients with thoracolumbar/lumbar
adolescent idiopathic scoliosis treated by posterior spinal fusion
using a unilateral convex segmental pedicle screw technique. A total
of 72 patients were included (67 female, 5 male; mean age at surgery
16.7 years (13 to 23)) and divided into groups: group 1 included
53 patients who underwent fusion between the vertebrae at the limit
of the curve (proximal and distal end vertebrae); group 2 included
19 patients who underwent extension of the fusion distally beyond
the caudal end vertebra. A mean scoliosis correction of 80% (45% to 100%) was achieved.
The mean post-operative lowest instrumented vertebra angle, apical
vertebra translation and trunk shift were less than in previous
studies. A total of five pre-operative radiological parameters differed
significantly between the groups and correlated with the extension
of the fusion distally: the size of the thoracolumbar/lumbar curve,
the lowest instrumented vertebra angle, apical vertebra translation,
the Cobb angle on lumbar convex bending and the size of the compensatory
thoracic curve. Regression analysis allowed an equation incorporating
these parameters to be developed which had a positive predictive
value of 81% in determining whether the lowest instrumented vertebra
should be at the caudal end vertebra or one or two levels more distal.
There were no differences in the Scoliosis Research Society-22 outcome
scores between the two groups (p = 0.17). In conclusion, thoracolumbar/lumbar curves in patients with adolescent
idiopathic scoliosis may be effectively treated by posterior spinal
fusion using a unilateral segmental pedicle screw technique. Five
radiological parameters correlate with the need for distal extension
of the fusion, and an equation incorporating these parameters reliably
informs selection of the lowest instrumented vertebra. Cite this article:
We reviewed 212 consecutive patients with adolescent
idiopathic scoliosis who underwent posterior spinal arthrodesis
using all pedicle screw instrumentation in terms of clinical, radiological
and Scoliosis Research Society (SRS)-22 outcomes. In Group 1 (51
patients), the correction was performed over two rods using bilateral
segmental pedicle screws. In Group 2 (161 patients), the correction
was performed over one rod using unilateral segmental pedicle screws
with the second rod providing stability of the construct
through two-level screw fixation at proximal and distal ends. The
mean age at surgery was
14.8 years in both groups. Comparison between groups showed no significant
differences with regard to age and Risser grade at surgery, pre-
and post-operative scoliosis angle, coronal Cobb correction, length
of hospital stay and SRS scores. Correction of upper thoracic curves
was significantly better in Group 1 (p = 0.02). Increased surgical time
and intra-operative blood loss was recorded in Group 1 (p <
0.001
and p = 0.04, respectively). The implant cost was reduced by mean
35% in Group 2 due to the lesser number of pedicle screws. Unilateral and bilateral pedicle screw techniques have both achieved
excellent deformity correction in adolescent patients with idiopathic
scoliosis, which was maintained at two-year follow-up. This has
been associated with high patient satisfaction and low complication
rates.
Diastematomyelia is a rare congenital abnormality
of the spinal cord. This paper summarises more than 30 years’ experience
of treating this condition. Data were collected retrospectively
on 138 patients with diastematomyelia (34 males, 104 females) who
were treated at our hospital from May 1978 to April 2010. A total
of 106 patients had double dural