We sought to determine whether specific characteristics of vertebral fractures in elderly men are associated with low bone mineral density (BMD) and osteoporosis. . Mister osteoporosis Sweden is a population based cohort study involving 3014 men aged 69 to 81 years. Of these, 1427 had readable lateral radiographs of the thoracic and lumbar spine. Total body (TB) BMD (g/cm²) and total right hip (TH) BMD were measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. The proportion of men with osteoporosis was calculated from TH BMD. There were 215 men (15.1%) with a vertebral fracture. Those with a fracture had lower TB BMD than those without (p < 0.001). Among men with a fracture, TB BMD was lower in those with more than three fractures (p = 0.02), those with biconcave fractures (p = 0.02) and those with vertebral body compression of > 42% (worst quartile) (p = 0.03). The mean odds ratio (OR) for having osteoporosis when having any type of vertebral fracture was 6.1 (95% confidence interval (CI) 3.9 to 9.5) compared with those without a fracture. A combination of more than three fractures and compression in the worst quartile had a mean OR of 114.2 (95% CI 6.7 to 1938.3) of having osteoporosis compared with those without a fracture. . We recommend BMD studies to be undertaken in these subcohorts of elderly men with a vertebral fracture. Cite this article: 2015;97-B:1106–10

Aims. 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. Methods. In this prognostic study, a multicentre, retrospective single-level vertebral augmentation cohort of 377 patients from six Japanese hospitals was used to derive an AVF prediction model. Backward stepwise selection (p < 0.05) was used to select preoperative clinical and imaging predictors for acute AVF after vertebral augmentation for up to one month, from 14 predictors. We assigned a score to each selected variable based on the regression coefficient and developed the AVA scoring system. We evaluated sensitivity and specificity for each cut-off, area under the curve (AUC), and calibration as diagnostic performance. Internal validation was conducted using bootstrapping to correct the optimism. Results. Of the 377 patients used for model derivation, 58 (15%) had an acute AVF postoperatively. The following preoperative measures on multivariable analysis were summarized in the five-point AVA score: intravertebral instability (≥ 5 mm), focal kyphosis (≥ 10°), duration of symptoms (≥ 30 days), intravertebral cleft, and previous history of vertebral fracture. Internal validation showed a mean optimism of 0.019 with a corrected AUC of 0.77. A cut-off of ≤ one point was chosen to classify a low risk of AVF, for which only four of 137 patients (3%) had AVF with 92.5% sensitivity and 45.6% specificity. A cut-off of ≥ four points was chosen to classify a high risk of AVF, for which 22 of 38 (58%) had AVF with 41.5% sensitivity and 94.5% specificity. Conclusion. In this study, the AVA score was found to be a simple preoperative method for the identification of patients at low and high risk of postoperative acute AVF. This model could be applied to individual patients and could aid in the decision-making before vertebral augmentation. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2022;104-B(1):97–102

Objectives. Osteoporosis has become an increasing concern for older people as it may potentially lead to osteoporotic fractures. This study is designed to assess the efficacy and safety of ten therapies for post-menopausal women using network meta-analysis. Methods. We conducted a systematic search in several databases, including PubMed and Embase. A random-effects model was employed and results were assessed by the odds ratio (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI). Furthermore, with respect to each outcome, each intervention was ranked according to the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) value. Results. With respect to preventing new vertebral fractures (NVF), all ten drugs outperformed placebo, and etidronate proved to be the most effective treatment (OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.39). In addition, zoledronic acid and parathyroid hormone ranked higher compared with the other drugs. With respect to preventing clinical vertebral fractures (CVF), zoledronic acid proved to be the most effective drug (OR = 0.25, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.92), with denosumab as a desirable second option (OR = 0.48, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.96), when both were compared with placebo. As for adverse events (AE) and severe adverse events (SAE), no significant difference was observed. According to SUCRA, etidronate ranked first in preventing CVF; parathyroid hormone and zoledronic acid ranked highly in preventing NVF and CVF. Raloxifene was safe with a high rank in preventing AEs and SAEs though performed unsatisfactorily in efficacy. Conclusions. This study suggests that, taking efficacy and safety into account, parathyroid hormone and zoledronic acid had the highest probability of satisfactory performance in preventing osteoporotic fractures. Cite this article: G. Wang, L. Sui, P. Gai, G. Li, X. Qi, X. Jiang. The efficacy and safety of vertebral fracture prevention therapies in post-menopausal osteoporosis treatment: Which therapies work best? a network meta-analysis. Bone Joint Res 2017;6:452–463. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.67.BJR-2016-0292.R1

We have studied 58 patients with pain from osteoporotic vertebral fractures which did not respond to conservative treatment. These were 53 women and five men with a mean age of 72.5 years. They received a nerve-root injection with lidocaine, bupivicaine and DepoMedrol. The mean follow-up period was 13.5 months. The mean pain scores before treatment, at one and six months after treatment and at the final follow-up were 85, 24.9, 14.1, and 17.4, respectively. According to our modified criteria for grading results, six patients were considered to have an excellent result, 42 good and ten fair. A newly developed compression fracture was noted in three patients. There were no complications related to the injection. Our study suggests that nerve-root injections are effective in reducing pain in patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures and that these patients should be considered for this treatment before percutaneous vertebroplasty or operative intervention is attempted

Introduction Vertebral fractures in the elderly frequently involve the anterior and superior regions of the vertebral body. We hypothesise that vertebral fracture patterns reflect regional variations in bone mineral density (BMD). Methods Nineteen motion segments (aged 48–90 yrs) were obtained from thoracic and lumbar regions of cadaver spines. Specimens were compressed to failure while positioned in moderate flexion (to simulate someone lifting in a stooped posture). Superior and inferior vertebrae were dissected and the site of fracture identified by visual inspection. The volume of each vertebral body was measured by water immersion, and BMD was measured using dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). BMD was also calculated for the following regions: superior and inferior end-plates; upper, middle and lower thirds of the vertebral body between the end-plates; anterior, middle and posterior thirds of the vertebral body. Results In 16 of the 19 specimens, an obvious fracture was located in the anterior or central region of the superior end-plate of the inferior vertebral body, accompanied by collapse of supporting trabeculae. BMD of the superior end-plate was significantly lower than that of the inferior end-plate. Similarly, BMD of the upper third of the vertebral body was less than that of the lower third, and BMD increased significantly from anterior to posterior regions in the vertebral body. Discussion Low BMD in the superior and anterior regions of old vertebral bodies predisposes them to fracture. Altered load-sharing in old spines secondary to disc degeneration may explain these regions of low BMD

Spinal fractures are common following underbody blast. Most injuries occur at the thoracolumbar junction, and fracture patterns suggest the spine is flexed at the moment of injury. However, current mechanistic descriptions of vertebral fractures are based on low energy injuries, and there is no evidence to correlate fracture pattern with posture at the loading rates seen in blast injury. The T12-L1 segment of 4 human spines was dissected to preserve the paraspinal ligaments and potted in polymethylmecrylate. The specimens were impacted with a 14 kg mass at 3.5m/s in a drop tower; two specimens were impacted in neutral posture, one in flexion, and one in extension. A load cell measured the load history. CT scans and dissection identified the injury patterns. Each specimen sustained a burst fracture. The neutral specimens demonstrated superior burst fractures, the flexed specimen demonstrated a superior burst fracture with significant anterior involvement, and the extended specimen showed a posterior vertebral body burst fracture. At high loading rates, the posture of the spine at the moment of injury appears to affect the resulting fracture. This supports understanding the behaviour of the spine in blast injury and will allow improved mitigation system design in the future

To explore a novel machine learning model to evaluate the vertebral fracture risk using Decision Tree model and train the model by Bone Mineral Density (BMD) of different compartments of vertebral body. We collected a Computed Tomography image dataset, including 10 patients with osteoporotic fracture and 10 patients without osteoporotic fracture. 40 non-fracture Vertebral bodies from T11 to L5 were segmented from 10 patients with osteoporotic fracture in the CT database and 53 non-fracture Vertebral bodies from T11 to L5 were segmented from 10 patients without osteoporotic fracture in the CT database. Based on the biomechanical properties, 93 vertebral bodies were further segmented into 11 compartments: eight trabecular bone, cortical shell, top and bottom endplate. BMD of these 11 compartments was calculated based on the HU value in CT images. Decision tree model was used to build fracture prediction model, and Support Vector Machine was built as a compared model. All BMD data was shuffled to a random order. 70% of data was used as training data, and 30% left was used as test data. Then, training prediction accuracy and testing prediction accuracy were calculated separately in the two models. The training accuracy of Decision Tree model is 100% and testing accuracy is 92.14% after trained by BMD data of 11 compartments of the vertebral body. The type I error is 7.14% and type II error is 0%. The training accuracy of Support Vector Machine model is 100% and the testing accuracy is 78.57%. The type I error is 17.86% and type II error is 3.57%. The performance of vertebral body fracture prediction using Decision Tree is significantly higher than using Support Vector Machine. The Decision Tree model is a potential risk assessment method for clinical application. The pilot evidence showed that Decision Tree prediction model overcomes the overfitting drawback of Support Vector Machine Model. However, larger dataset and cohort study should be conducted for further evidence

Residual kyphotic deformity is considered the main factor for the increased risk of new fractures after an osteoporotic vertebral fracture. We hypothesized that even in the absence of kyphotic deformity, the altered pressure profile of the disc after a fracture will increase the risk for subsequent fractures. Materials and Methods: Six fresh-frozen, human thoracolumbar specimens, consisting of 5 adjacent vertebrae, were used. A void was randomly created under the upper (n=3) or the lower (n=3) endplate of the middle vertebra. The specimen was then compressed in flexion until a selective fracture of the weakened endplate was observed. Vertebral kyphosis was reduced with extension. After cementation of the fracture, the rest of the trabecular content was evacuated and was filled with cement. Specimens were tested in flexion-extension (±6Nm) under 400N preload before and after the index fracture. Pressure was recorded at the discs above and below the fractured VB and strain at the anterior wall of the adjacent VBs. Finally, the specimen was loaded in flexion until a subsequent fracture was observed on fluoroscopy. Results: In the intact specimens, nucleus pressure increased by 26.4±13.9% in full flexion compared to neutral posture. After the index fracture, the pressure in full flexion increased by 15.2±11 % in the discs with unfractured endplates, but decreased by 19±26.7% in the discs with the fractured endplate (p< 0.05). Anterior wall strain at the VB adjacent to the fractured endplate increased by 94.2%±22.8% (p=0.02), compared to an 18.2%±7.1% (p=0.98) increase at the VB adjacent to the unfractured endplate. Subsequent loading of the specimens after cementation of the index fracture resulted in a fracture of the adjacent VB close to the fractured endplate of the middle vertebra in 4 specimens and at the upper potted VB in one specimen. Maximum load applied with the actuators failed to create a fracture in one specimen. Discussion: The effects of the fractured endplate were isolated by eliminating other known parameters. Vertebral kyphosis was reduced and cement was similarly distributed under both endplates. In the intact specimens, nucleus pressure gradually increased during flexion. This can more evenly distribute the load during flexion to the entire surface of the endplate and avoid excessive load concentration to the anterior portion. After an endplate fracture, the nucleus pressure gradually decreased during flexion, meaning that the anterior annulus was forced to bear more load. This uneven load transfer to the anterior part of the VB resulted in doubling the strain at the VB adjacent to the fractured end plate. All adjacent factures were observed at the vertebra next to the damaged endplate. The altered mechanical behavior of the nucleus can be ascribed to the increased available space after the endplate depression

Osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) are an increasing public health problem. Recently, randomised controlled trials on the use of kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty in the treatment of these fractures have been published, but no definitive conclusions have been reached on the role of these interventions. The major problem encountered when trying to perform a meta-analysis of the available studies for the use of cementoplasty in patients with a VCF is that conservative management has not been standardised. Forms of conservative treatment commonly used in these patients include bed rest, analgesic medication, physiotherapy and bracing.

In this review, we report the best evidence available on the conservative care of patients with osteoporotic VCFs and associated back pain, focusing on the role of the most commonly used spinal orthoses. Although orthoses are used for the management of these patients, to date, there has been only one randomised controlled trial published evaluating their value. Until the best conservative management for patients with VCFs is defined and standardised, no conclusions can be drawn on the superiority or otherwise of cementoplasty techniques over conservative management.

Introduction: Pathological changes in the elderly spine include intervertebral disc degeneration, apophyseal joint arthritis and osteoporotic fracture of the vertebral body. Such changes are likely to be inter-related through alterations in the sharing of load between the apophyseal joints and the intervertebral disc unit. We describe an accurate, non-destructive method for calculating the load sharing based on measurements of the distribution of stress within the intervertebral disc.

Materials and Methods: Twenty three motion segments, consisting of two vertebrae and the intervening disc and ligaments, were dissected from 17 human lumbar spines. A preliminary “creep” test was used to reduce disc height and water content by an amount equivalent to the diurnal variation seen in vivo. Then, a constant load was applied to each motion segment, using a computer-controlled hydraulic materials testing machine, for a period of 20s while a pressure-transducer, sensitive to spatial variations in compressive stress, was pulled through the disc along its mid-sagittal diameter. Profiles of vertically-acting compressive stress were obtained in each disc positioned in 2° of extension (appropriate for an erect standing posture). The total compressive force acting on the intervertebral disc was calculated by modelling the disc using approximately 20 elliptical rings of known cross-sectional area. The force acting on each ring was given by the product of area and the average compressive stress acting on it, which was obtained from the appropriate region of the stress profile. The total force acting through the disc was obtained by summing up the force contribution from each ring. The force acting on the apophyseal joints was calculated from the difference between applied (known) load and the calculated load acting on the disc. A correction factor was obtained separately for each disc to account for deviations in the cross-section from the elliptical, and variations in the sensitivity of the transducer in disc tissues of different ages. The correction factor was obtained by comparing the applied force with the force calculated from a stress profile measured before creep loading while the disc was in a neutral position, when the load passing through the apophyseal joints is negligible.

Results: The proportion of load passing through the apophyseal joints increased significantly with age (r²=0.48, p< 0.01), from 7% at age 27 yrs to 42% at 82yrs. Similarly, the proportion of load passing through the apophyseal joints increased with degree of disc degeneration (r²=0.5, p< 0.05 Pearson, Chi-square) from 8% in “grade 1” discs to 40% in “grade 4” discs.

Discussion: The compressive load passing through the apophyseal joints is higher than that predicted by previous, inaccurate, methods, or by experiments which failed to reduce the height and water content of the intervertebral disc. Increased load-bearing may be a contributing factor in apophyseal joint degeneration. Also, in lordotic postures, “stress shielding” by the apophyseal joints could contribute to bone loss in the vertebral body, leaving it vulnerable to osteoporotic fracture when the spine is loaded in flexion.

Purpose: To identify local and systemic risk factors for the development of pathologic fractures and determine the value of the Tokuhashi Score in patients with known asymptomatic lytic spinal metastases secondary to breast cancer.

Method: A prospective cohort study was carried out on 51 patients with lytic spinal metastases secondary to breast cancer identified as having either purely lytic or mixed disease. The Tokuhashi Score, developed to estimate life expectancy for patients with symptomatic spinal metastases being considered for surgery, was calculated for each of the 51 patients. The score consists of six parameters each of which is rated from 0–2. Initial and follow up CT images and pain and function data were obtained every four months for one year. A final review of patient charts was performed two years later to determine if each patient was still alive.

Results: Tumour burden was predominantly blastic and mixed rather than lytic. There was no progression of lytic tumour burden over the 12-month period, however there was progression of blastic tumour load. Eleven compression fractures occurred in seven patients; no burst fractures occurred during the study. No correlation between tumour burden (lytic, blastic or both) and risk of fracture was found. A weak correlation between bone mineral density and length of time elapsed from diagnosis of metastatic disease and fracture risk was found. Pain and functional data results were not related to tumour load. Tokuhashi score did correlate with survival, however actual survival in our population was far longer than that found in previous studies. Negative progesterone status was found to be negatively associated with life expectancy.

Conclusion: Metastatic vertebral disease in breast cancer patients has a predominantly blastic and mixed appearance with current pharmacologic therapies. Pathologic fracture risk appears to be more related to bone mineral density than tumour burden in this population. Tokuhashi score does correlate with life expectancy in patients with relatively asymptomatic spinal metastases. Having a progesterone receptor negative tumour has a significantly negative impact on life expectancy.

Purpose: Apoptosis of osteoblasts and osteoclasts regulates bone homeostasis. Vertebral osteoporotic insufficiency fractures are characterised by pathological rates of osteoblast apoptosis. Skeletal injury in humans results in ‘angiogenic’ responses primarily mediated by vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), a protein essential for bone repair in animal models. Osteoblasts release VEGF in response to a number of stimuli and express receptors for VEGF in a differentiation dependent manner. This study investigates the putative role of VEGF in regulating the lifespan of primary human vertebral osteoblasts (PHVO) in-vitro.

Method: PHVO were cultured from biopsies taken at time of therapeutic vertebroplasty and were examined for VEGF receptors. Cultures were supplemented with VEGF(0–50ng/mL), a neutralising antibody to VEGF, mAB VEGF(0.3ug/mL) and Placental Growth Factor (PlGF), an Flt-1 receptor-specific VEGF ligand(0–100 ng/mL) to examine their effects on mineralised nodule assay, alkaline phosphatase assay and apoptosis. The role of the VEGF specific antiapoptotic gene target BCl2 in apoptosis was determined.

Results: PHVO expressed functional VEGF receptors. VEGF 10 and 25 ng/mL increased nodule formation 2.3- and 3.16-fold and alkaline phosphatase release 2.6 and 4.1-fold respectively while 0.3ug/mL of mAB VEGF resulted in approx 40% reductions in both. PlGF 50ng/mL had greater effects on alkaline phosphatase release (103% increase) than on nodule formation (57% increase). 10ng/mL of VEGF inhibited spontaneous and pathological apoptosis by 83.6% and 71% respectively, while PlGF had no significant effect. Pretreatment with mAB VEGF, in the absence of exogenous VEGF resulted in a significant increase in apoptosis (14 versus 3%). BCl2 transfection gave a 0.9% apoptotic rate. VEGF 10 ng/mL increased BCl2 expression four fold while mAB VEGF decreased it by over 50%.

Conclusion: VEGF is a potent regulator of osteoblast life-span in-vitro. This autocrine feedback regulates survival of these cells, mediated via the KDR receptor and expression of BCl2 antiapoptotic gene. This mechanism may represent a novel therapeutic model for the treatment of osteoporosis.

Study Purpose

To review systematically review literature on the early diagnosis of spinal metastases and prediction of spinal cord compression (SCC) due to spinal metastases

Introduction/Aims

An increased mortality associated with hip fractures has been recognized, but the impact of vertebral osteoporotic compression fractures (VCF) is still underestimated. The aim of this study was to report on the difference in survival for VCF patients following non-operative and operative [Balloon Kyphoplasty (BKP) or Vertebroplasty (VP)] treatments.

Aims. The aim of this study was to report the patterns of symptoms and insufficiency fractures in patients with tumour-induced osteomalacia (TIO) to allow the early diagnosis of this rare condition. Methods. The study included 33 patients with TIO who were treated between January 2000 and June 2022. The causative tumour was detected in all patients. We investigated the symptoms and evaluated the radiological patterns of insufficiency fractures of the rib, spine, and limbs. Results. The mean age of the patients was 57 years (24 to 87), and the mean duration of pain from onset to time of presentation was 3.9 years (0.75 to 23). The primary symptoms were low back pain (ten patients), chest wall pain (eight patients), and hip pain (eight patients). There were symptoms at more sites at the time of presentation compared with that at the time of the onset of symptoms. Bone scans showed the uptake of tracer in the rib (100%), thoracic and lumbar vertebrae (83%), proximal femur (62%), distal femur (66%), and proximal tibia (72%). Plain radiographs or MRI scans identified femoral neck fractures in 14 patients, subchondral insufficiency fractures of the femoral head and knee in ten and six patients, respectively, distal femoral fractures in nine patients, and proximal tibial fractures in 12 patients. Thoracic or lumbar vertebral fractures were identified in 23 of 29 patients (79.3%) when using any imaging study, and a biconcave deformity was the most common type of fracture. Conclusion. Insufficiency fractures in patients with TIO caused spinal pain, chest wall pain, and periarticular pain in the lower limbs. Vertebral fractures tended to be biconcave deformities, and periarticular fractures of the hips and knees included subchondral insufficiency fractures and epiphyseal or metaphyseal fractures. In patients with a tumour, the presence of one or more of these symptoms and an insufficiency fracture should suggest the diagnosis of TIO. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2023;105-B(5):568–574

Introduction. Most common osteoporotic fracture. 20-30% of patients with OVFs are presented to hospital while 2.2 million remain undiagnosed, as diagnosis is usually opportunistic. 66,000 OVFs occur annually in the UK with increase by 18,000 cases a year until 2025. 20% chance of another OVF in next 12 months and 3 times risk of hip fracture. Acute painful OVFs poorly tolerated by infirm elderly patients, leading to significant morbidity and 8 times increase in age-adjusted mortality. Materials and Methods. Classify fracture severity and patents with ovfs in 12-month period. To assess follow-up status and if kyphoplasty was offered within 6 weeks as per NICE guidelines. To introduce Royal Osteoporosis Society and GIRFT guidelines on management of symptomatic osteoporotic vertebral fractures. Results. Total no. of patients- 62. Initial pain assessment=40. Pain assessed at ≤6 weeks- 21. Duration from decision to operate to kyphoplasty 8.7 weeks. 11% had kyphoplasty of which 50% noted improvement in pain. 11 deaths. Nearly similar findings to NoSH study. Conclusion. To improve pain assessment on admission of patients with acute osteoporotic vertebral fractures. To follow GIRFT guidelines for early assessment and intervention in patients with acute osteoporotic vertebral fractures to improve pain, mobility and early discharge from hospital. Conflicts of interest. None. Sources of funding. None

The Cochrane Collaboration has produced five new reviews relevant to bone and joint surgery since the publication of the last Cochrane Corner These reviews are relevant to a wide range of musculoskeletal specialists, and include reviews in Morton’s neuroma, scoliosis, vertebral fractures, carpal tunnel syndrome, and lower limb arthroplasty

Introduction and Objective. Up to 30% of thoracolumbar (TL) fractures are missed in the emergency room. Failure to identify these fractures can result in neurological injuries up to 51% of the casesthis article aimed to clarify the incidence and risk factors of traumatic fractures in China. The China National Fracture Study (CNFS. Obtaining sagittal and anteroposterior radiographs of the TL spine are the first diagnostic step when suspecting a traumatic injury. In most cases, CT and/or MRI are needed to confirm the diagnosis. These are time and resource consuming. Thus, reliably detecting vertebral fractures in simple radiographic projections would have a significant impact. We aim to develop and validate a deep learning tool capable of detecting TL fractures on lateral radiographs of the spine. The clinical implementation of this tool is anticipated to reduce the rate of missed vertebral fractures in emergency rooms. Materials and Methods. We collected sagittal radiographs, CT and MRI scans of the TL spine of 362 patients exhibiting traumatic vertebral fractures. Cases were excluded when CT and/or MRI where not available. The reference standard was set by an expert group of three spine surgeons who conjointly annotated (fracture/no-fracture and AO Classification) the sagittal radiographs of 171 cases. CT and/or MRI were used confirm the presence and type of the fracture in all cases. 302 cropped vertebral images were labelled “fracture” and 328 “no fracture”. After augmentation, this dataset was then used to train, validate, and test deep learning classifiers based on the ResNet18 and VGG16 architectures. To ensure that the model's prediction was based on the correct identification of the fracture zone, an Activation Map analysis was conducted. Results. Vertebras T12 to L2 were the most frequently involved, accounting for 48% of the fractures. Accuracies of 88% and 84% were obtained with ResNet18 and VGG16 respectively. The sensitivity was 89% with both architectures but ResNet18 had a significantly higher specificity (88%) compared to VGG16 (79%). The fracture zone used was precisely identified in 81% of the heatmaps. Conclusions. Our AI model can accurately identify anomalies suggestive of TL vertebral fractures in sagittal radiographs precisely identifying the fracture zone within the vertebral body

The August 2023 Spine Roundup360 looks at: Changes in paraspinal muscles correspond to the severity of degeneration in patients with lumbar stenosis; Steroid injections are not effective in the prevention of surgery for degenerative cervical myelopathy; A higher screw density is associated with fewer mechanical complications after surgery for adult spinal deformity; Methylprednisolone following minimally invasive lumbar decompression: a large prospective single-institution study; Occupancy rate of pedicle screw below 80% is a risk factor for upper instrumented vertebral fracture following adult spinal deformity surgery; Deterioration after surgery for degenerative cervical myelopathy: an observational study from the Canadian Spine Outcomes and Research Network

Aims. The current pandemic caused by COVID-19 is the biggest challenge for national health systems for a century. While most medical resources are allocated to treat COVID-19 patients, several non-COVID-19 medical emergencies still need to be treated, including vertebral fractures and spinal cord compression. The aim of this paper is to report the early experience and an organizational protocol for emergency spinal surgery currently being used in a large metropolitan area by an integrated team of orthopaedic surgeons and neurosurgeons. Methods. An organizational model is presented based on case centralization in hub hospitals and early management of surgical cases to reduce hospital stay. Data from all the patients admitted for emergency spinal surgery from the beginning of the outbreak were prospectively collected and compared to data from patients admitted for the same reason in the same time span in the previous year, and treated by the same integrated team. Results. A total of 19 patients (11 males and eight females, with a mean age of 49.9 years (14 to 83)) were admitted either for vertebral fracture or spinal cord compression in a 19-day period, compared to the ten admitted in the previous year. No COVID-19 patients were treated. The mean time between admission and surgery was 1.7 days, significantly lower than 6.8 days the previous year (p < 0.001). Conclusion. The structural organization and the management protocol we describe allowed us to reduce the time to surgery and ultimately hospital stay, thereby maximizing the already stretched medical resources available. We hope that our early experience can be of value to the medical communities that will soon be in the same emergency situation. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2020;102-B(6):671–676