Aims. The outcome following the development of neurological complications after corrective surgery for scoliosis varies from full recovery to a permanent deficit. This study aimed to assess the prognosis and recovery of major neurological deficits in these patients, and to determine the risk factors for non-recovery, at a minimum follow-up of two years. Methods. A major neurological deficit was identified in 65 of 8,870 patients who underwent corrective surgery for scoliosis, including eight with complete paraplegia and 57 with incomplete paraplegia. There were 23 male and 42 female patients. Their mean age was 25.0 years (SD 16.3). The aetiology of the scoliosis was idiopathic (n = 6), congenital (n = 23), neuromuscular (n = 11), neurofibromatosis type 1 (n = 6), and others (n = 19). Neurological function was determined by the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale at a mean follow-up of 45.4 months (SD 17.2). the patients were divided into those with recovery and those with no recovery according to the ASIA scale during follow-up. Results. The incidence of major deficit was 0.73%. At six-month follow-up, 39 patients (60%) had complete recovery and ten (15.4%) had incomplete recovery; these percentages improved to 70.8% (46) and 16.9% (11) at follow-up of two years, respectively. Eight patients showed no recovery at the final follow-up. The cause of injury was mechanical in 39 patients and ischaemic in five. For 11 patients with misplaced implants and haematoma formation, nine had complete recovery. Fisher’s exact test showed a significant difference in the aetiology of the scoliosis (p = 0.007) and preoperative deficit (p = 0.016) between the recovery and non-recovery groups. A preoperative deficit was found to be significantly associated with non-recovery (odds ratio 8.5 (95% confidence interval 1.676 to 43.109); p = 0.010) in a multivariate regression model. Conclusion. For patients with scoliosis who develop a major neurological deficit after corrective surgery, recovery (complete and incomplete) can be expected in 87.7%. The first three to six months is the time window for recovery. In patients with misplaced implants and haematoma formation, the prognosis is satisfactory with appropriate early intervention. Patients with a preoperative neurological deficit are at a significant risk of having a permanent deficit. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2022;104-B(1):103–111

Aims. The aim of this study was to investigate whether including the stages of ulnar physeal closure in Sanders stage 7 aids in a more accurate assessment for brace weaning in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Methods. This was a retrospective analysis of patients who were weaned from their brace and reviewed between June 2016 and December 2018. Patients who weaned from their brace at Risser stage ≥ 4, had static standing height and arm span for at least six months, and were ≥ two years post-menarche were included. Skeletal maturity at weaning was assessed using Sanders staging with stage 7 subclassified into 7a, in which all phalangeal physes are fused and only the distal radial physis is open, with narrowing of the medial physeal plate of the distal ulna, and 7b, in which fusion of > 50% of the medial growth plate of distal ulna exists, as well as the distal radius and ulna (DRU) classification, an established skeletal maturity index which assesses skeletal maturation using finer stages of the distal radial and ulnar physes, from open to complete fusion. The grade of maturity at the time of weaning and any progression of the curve were analyzed using Fisher’s exact test, with Cramer’s V, and Goodman and Kruskal’s tau. Results. We studied a total of 179 patients with AIS, of whom 149 (83.2%) were female. Their mean age was 14.8 years (SD 1.1) and the mean Cobb angle was 34.6° (SD 7.7°) at the time of weaning. The mean follow-up was 3.4 years (SD 1.8). At six months after weaning, the rates of progression of the curve for patients weaning at Sanders stage 7a and 7b were 11.4% and 0%, respectively for those with curves of < 40°. Similarly, the rates of progression of the curve for those being weaned at ulnar grade 7 and 8 using the DRU classification were 13.5% and 0%, respectively. The use of Sanders stages 6, 7a, 7b, and 8 for the assessment of maturity at the time of weaning were strongly and significantly associated (Cramer’s V 0.326; p = 0.016) with whether the curve progressed at six months after weaning. Weaning at Sanders stage 7 with subclassification allowed 10.6% reduction of error in predicting the progression of the curve. Conclusion. The use of Sanders stages 7a and 7b allows the accurate assessment of skeletal maturity for guiding brace weaning in patients with AIS. Weaning at Sanders stage 7b, or at ulnar grade 8 with the DRU classification, is more appropriate as the curve did not progress in any patient with a curve of < 40° immediately post-weaning. Thus, reaching full fusion in both distal radial and ulnar physes (as at Sanders stage 8) is not necessary and this allows weaning from a brace to be initiated about nine months earlier. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2021;103-B(1):141–147

Objectives. Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) stimulation was evaluated after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) procedures in a randomized, controlled clinical study performed for United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. PEMF significantly increased fusion rates at six months, but 12-month fusion outcomes for subjects at elevated risk for pseudoarthrosis were not thoroughly reported. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the effect of PEMF treatment on subjects at increased risk for pseudoarthrosis after ACDF procedures. Methods. Two evaluations were performed that compared fusion rates between PEMF stimulation and a historical control (160 subjects) from the FDA investigational device exemption (IDE) study: a post hoc (PH) analysis of high-risk subjects from the FDA study (PH PEMF); and a multicentre, open-label (OL) study consisting of 274 subjects treated with PEMF (OL PEMF). Fisher’s exact test and multivariate logistic regression was used to compare fusion rates between PEMF-treated subjects and historical controls. Results. In separate comparisons of PH PEMF and OL PEMF groups to the historical control group, PEMF treatment significantly (p < 0.05, Fisher’s exact test) increased the fusion rate at six and 12 months for certain high-risk subjects who had at least one clinical risk factor of being elderly, a nicotine user, osteoporotic, or diabetic; and for those with at least one clinical risk factor and who received at least a two- or three-level arthrodesis. Conclusion. Adjunctive PEMF treatment can be recommended for patients who are at high risk for pseudoarthrosis. Cite this article: D. Coric, D. E. Bullard, V. V. Patel, J. T. Ryaby, B. L. Atkinson, D. He, R. D. Guyer. Pulsed electromagnetic field stimulation may improve fusion rates in cervical arthrodesis in high-risk populations. Bone Joint Res 2018;7:124–130. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.72.BJR-2017-0221.R1

Aim. To investigate the effect of intraoperative wound irrigation with povidone-iodine on surgical site infection. Methods. Data were collected prospectively for all cases of instrumented thoracic and lumbar spine surgery undertaken by the senior author (DB) from 01/10/2008 to 1/10/2010. Variables recorded included patient factors (age, co-morbidities, drug history) and operative factors (type of operation, duration of operation, elective/emergency, in hours/out of hours, consultant/junior, perioperative antibiotic administration). Routine povidone-iodine application commenced on 1/06/2009. Surgical site infection was defined as wound infection confirmed on wound swab or blood cultures. Comparison was made between patients receiving povidone-iodine intraoperative wound irrigation and those who did not using Fisher's exact test. Results. Data from 91 consecutive patients who had undergone instrumented thoracic or lumbar fusions under the care of the senior author were analysed. Mean age was 58.0±16.9 years. There was no difference in age (Mean±SD) between those receiving povidone-iodine (59.1 ±16.9y) and those without povidone-iodine administration (55.3 ±16.9) (p=0.33). The number of wound infections was significantly reduced from 19% (5/26) in those without povidone-iodine to 0% (0/65) in those with application of povidone-iodine (p=0.001, Fisher's exact). Conclusion. Intraoperative povidone-iodine irrigation appears to be an effective method of reducing SSIs in instrumented spinal fixation surgery

Introduction. Distal adding-on is often accompanied by unsatisfactory clinical outcome and high risk of reoperation. However, very few studies have focused on distal adding-on and its attendant risk factors, and optimum treatment strategies remain controversial. In a retrospective study, we aimed to identify risk factors for the presence of distal adding-on in Lenke 1A scoliosis and to compare different treatment strategies. Methods. Data for all surgically treated patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) were retrieved from one institutional database. Inclusion criteria included: patients with Lenke 1A scoliosis treated with posterior pedicle screw-only constructs; and a minimum 1-year radiographic follow-up. Distal adding-on was defined as a progressive increase in the number of vertebrae included distally within the primary curve combined with either an increase of more than 5 mm in deviation of the first vertebra below instrumentation from the centre sacral vertical line (CSVL), or an increase of more than 5° in the angulation of the first disc below the instrumentation at 1 year follow-up. Wilcoxon rank-sum test, Fisher's exact test, and Spearman's correlation test were used to identify the risk factors for adding-on. A multiple logistic regression model was built to identify independent predictive factors. Risk factors included: age at surgery; preoperative Cobb angle; correction rate; the gap difference of stable vertebra (SV) and lowest instrumented vertebra (LIV), neutral vertebra (NC) and LIV, and end vertebra (EV) and LIV (gap difference means, for example, if SV is at L2 and LIV is at Th12, then the difference of SV-LIV is 2); and the preoperative deviation of LIV+1 (the first vertebra below the instrumentation) from the CSVL (the vertical line that bisects proximal sacrum). Five methods for determining LIV were compared in both the adding-on group and the no adding-on group. Results. Of 278 patients reviewed, 45 met the inclusion criteria; 23 of these patients met the definition for distal adding-on and were included in the adding-on group. The remaining 22 patients were included in the no adding-on group. Mean follow-up was 3.6 years. Age, SV-LIV difference, EV-LIV difference, and LIV+1 deviation from CSVL differed significantly (p<0.05) between the two groups, and were significantly correlated with the presence of adding-on (p<0.05). Preoperative Cobb angle, correction rate, and NV-LIV difference were not associated with the presence of adding-on. Multiple logistic regression results indicated that preoperative LIV+1 deviation from CSVL was an independent predictive factor. Of the five methods, choosing EV as LIV nearly prevented distal adding-on; choosing EV+1 as LIV resulted in fusing many more segments than was necessary; and only choosing DV as LIV showed satisfactory outcome from both perspectives. Conclusions. In Lenke 1A type scoliosis, the selection of LIV is highly correlated with the presence of adding-on; incidence increases substantially when the preoperative LIV+1 deviation from CSVL is more than 10 mm. Choosing DV (the first vertebra in cephalad direction from sacrum with deviation from CSVL of more than 10 mm) as LIV may provide the best outcome because it not only prevents adding-on but also conserves more lumbar motion

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The optimal procedure for the treatment of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) remains controversial. The aim of this study was to compare the outcome of anterior cervical ossified posterior longitudinal ligament en bloc resection (ACOE) with posterior laminectomy and fusion with bone graft and internal fixation (PTLF) for the surgical management of patients with this condition.

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The aim of this study was to determine whether early surgical treatment results in better neurological recovery 12 months after injury than late surgical treatment in patients with acute traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI).

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The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and characteristics of instrumentation failure (IF) after total en bloc spondylectomy (TES), and to analyze risk factors for IF.

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The aims of this study were first, to determine if adding fusion to a decompression of the lumbar spine for spinal stenosis decreases the rate of radiological restenosis and/or proximal adjacent level stenosis two years after surgery, and second, to evaluate the change in vertebral slip two years after surgery with and without fusion.

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The aim of the present study was to answer the question whether curve morphology and location have an influence on rigid conservative treatment in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

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To develop and internally validate a preoperative clinical prediction model for acute adjacent vertebral fracture (AVF) after vertebral augmentation to support preoperative decision-making, named the after vertebral augmentation (AVA) score.

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Psychoeducative prehabilitation to optimize surgical outcomes is relatively novel in spinal fusion surgery and, like most rehabilitation treatments, they are rarely well specified. Spinal fusion patients experience anxieties perioperatively about pain and immobility, which might prolong hospital length of stay (LOS). The aim of this prospective cohort study was to determine if a Preoperative Spinal Education (POSE) programme, specified using the Rehabilitation Treatment Specification System (RTSS) and designed to normalize expectations and reduce anxieties, was safe and reduced LOS.

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Cauda equina syndrome (CES) can be associated with chronic severe lower back pain and long-term autonomic dysfunction. This study assesses the recently defined core outcome set for CES in a cohort of patients using validated questionnaires.

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This study, using a surgeon-maintained database, aimed to explore the risk factors for surgery-related complications in patients undergoing primary cervical spine surgery for degenerative diseases.

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To evaluate the perioperative complications associated with total en bloc spondylectomy (TES) in patients with spinal tumours, based on the extent and level of tumour resection.

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With recent progress in cancer treatment, the number of advanced-age patients with spinal metastases has been increasing. It is important to clarify the influence of advanced age on outcomes following surgery for spinal metastases, especially with a focus on subjective health state values.

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The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with poor outcome following coccygectomy on patients with chronic coccydynia and instability of the coccyx.

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The British Spine Registry (BSR) was introduced in May 2012 to be used as a web-based database for spinal surgeries carried out across the UK. Use of this database has been encouraged but not compulsory, which has led to a variable level of engagement in the UK. In 2019 NHS England and NHS Improvement introduced a new Best Practice Tariff (BPT) to encourage input of spinal surgical data on the BSR. The aim of our study was to assess the impact of the spinal BPT on compliance with the recording of surgical data on the BSR.

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To benchmark the radiation dose to patients during the course of treatment for a spinal deformity.

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Diagnosis of cauda equina syndrome (CES) remains difficult; clinical assessment has low accuracy in reliably predicting MRI compression of the cauda equina (CE). This prospective study tests the usefulness of ultrasound bladder scans as an adjunct for diagnosing CES.