Aims

The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic utility of histological analysis in spinal biopsies for spondylodiscitis (SD).

To determine extent of correction in spinal osteotomy for fixed sagittal plane deformity

Radiographic retrospective cohort analysis using standardised standing whole spine radiographs. Level III evidence

24 patients (14 females/10 males, av. 53.6 yrs) with sagittal plane deformity due to either ankylosing spondylitis (4), idiopathic (12), congenital (1), tumour (2), infectious (1), or posttraumatic (4) aetiologies. Max. 4 yrs follow up

Sagittal balance, lumbar lordosis correction, osteotomy angle, pelvic indices

Chevron (3), pedicle subtraction (17), and vertebral column resection (4) osteotomies were performed with the majority at L3 (9) and L2 (8). The C7-S1 sagittal vertical axis demonstrated a preoperative decompensation averaging 12.0 cm (range -7 to 37) with 55% of patients achieving normal sagittal balance postoperatively. Lumbar lordosis increased from 28.9° (range -28 to 63) to 48.9° (range 12 to 69) (22.3° av. correction). L3 osteotomy angle was largest, average 31° (range, 16 to 47). There were 11 complications comprising; major (1) and minor (1) neurological, junctional kyphosis (3), metalwork problems (2), dural tear (2) and infection (2). Four patients required additional surgery at latest follow-up. Technical outcome was good 11(50%), fair 8(36%), poor 3(14%).

Spinal osteotomy is a very effective technique to correct fixed sagittal imbalance and provide biomechanical stability. The high complication rate mandates a careful assessment of the risk/benefit ratio before undertaking what is a major reconstructive procedure. Most patients are satisfied, particularly when sagittal balance is achieved.

To compare the effect of intraoperative red cell salvage on blood transfusion and cost in patients undergoing idiopathic scoliosis surgery.

Retrospective

37 patients (36 females, 1 male) underwent scoliosis surgery from February 2007 to October 2008. Intraoperative red cell salvage (Group 1) was used. They were compared with 28 patients (23 females, 5 males) operated from January 2005 to December 2006 without the use of cell salvage (Group 2). 36 patients in group 1 had posterior surgery and 1 had anterior surgery. In Group 2, 20 patients had posterior surgery, 7 anterior and 1 patient had anterior and posterior surgery. Both groups were comparable for age, number of levels fused, preoperative haemoglobin and haematocrit values.

Amount of perioperative blood transfusion, costs

14 patients (50%) in group 2 had blood transfusion whereas only 6 (16%) were transfused blood in group 1. Average blood loss in group 1 was 1076 mls (range 315-3000) and 1626mls (419-4275) in group 2. An average of 2 units of packed red blood cells per patient was processed by the cell salvage system. Postoperative haemoglobin, haematocrit and hospital stay were comparable in both groups. Cost analysis shows the use of cell salvage is cost beneficial by £116.60 per case.

The use of red blood cell salvage reduces the amount of blood transfusion and is cost beneficial.

A literature review of bone graft substitutes for spinal fusion was undertaken from peer reviewed journals to form a basis for guidelines on their clinical use.

A PubMed search of peer reviewed journals between Jan 1960 and Dec 2009 for clinical trials of bone graft substitutes in spinal fusion was performed. Emphasis was placed on RCTs. Small and duplicated RCTs were excluded. If no RCTs were available the next best clinical evidence was assessed. Data were extracted for fusion rates and complications.

Of 929 potential spinal fusion studies, 7 RCTs met the inclusion criteria for BMP-2, 3 for BMP-7, 2 for Tricalcium Phosphate and 1 for Tricalcium Phosphate/Hydroxyapatite (TCP/HA). No clinical RCTs were found for Demineralised Bone Matrix (DBM), Calcium Sulphate or Calcium Silicate. There is strong evidence that BMP-2 with TCP/HA achieves similar or higher spinal fusion rates than autograft alone. BMP-7 achieved similar results to autograft. 3 RCTs support the use of TCP or TCP/HA and autograft as a graft extender with similar results to autograft alone. The best clinical evidence to support the use of DBMs are case control studies. The osteoinductive potential of DBM appears to be very low however. There are no clinical studies to support the use of Calcium Silicate.

The current literature supports the use of BMP-2 with HA/TCP as a graft substitute. TCP or HA/TCP with Autograft is supported as a graft extender. There is not enough clinical evidence to support other bone graft substitutes.

This study did not require ethics approval and no financial support was received.

Plain radiography has traditionally been used to investigate and monitor patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. The X-ray allows a calculation of the Cobb angle which measures the degree of lateral curvature in the coronal plane. ISIS2 is a surface topography system which has evolved from ISIS, but with much higher precision and speed. It measures the three dimensional shape of the back using structured light and digital photography. This system has the benefit of not requiring any radiation. Lateral asymmetry is the ISIS clinical parameter estimating the curve of the spine in the coronal plane. The aim of this study was to compare this parameter to the Cobb angle measured on plain X-ray.

Twelve patients with idiopathic adolescent scoliosis underwent both a standing AP spine X-ray and an ISIS2 scan on multiple occasions. Both scan and X-ray were done within one month of each other. No patient underwent surgery during the study period. The Cobb angle and the degree of lateral asymmetry were calculated.

Twelve patients mean age 12.5 years (range 10-16) were investigated using both ISIS2 and X-ray. They had a mean 2.3 (1-5) combined investigations allowing for 30 comparisons. The correlation between the two measurements was r =0.63 (p=0.0002). The Cobb angle measured on ISIS2 was less than that measured by radiograph in 27 out of 30 comparisons. The mean difference between the measurements was mean 6.4° with a standard deviation of 8.2° and 95% confidence interval of 3.3° to 9.4°.

In adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, curve severity and rib hump severity are related but measure different aspects of spinal deformity. As expected, these relate closely but not precisely. ISIS2 offers the promise of monitoring scoliosis precisely, without adverse effects from radiation. The small numbers in this series focus on the group of patients with mild to moderate curves at risk of progression. In this group, ISIS2 was able to identify curve stability or progression, without exposing the subjects to radiation.

Study Design: A six-year retrospective analysis of all instrumented spinal fusions performed in the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre and the John Radcliffe Hospital.

Objective: To assess the incidence of infection following instrumented spinal fusion, the nature of the infecting organisms and their subsequent management.

Subjects: All patients who had undergone removal of spinal metalwork were analysed for evidence of infection. The indications for removal of metalwork included proven deep infection, refractory postoperative pain or planned removal after thoraco-lumbar fracture.

Outcome Measures: Successful treatment of infection was documented when the patient was asymptomatic and inflammatory markers remained within normal limits following cessation of antibiotic therapy. Failure was documented when the patient had recurrent sepsis, refractory pain following removal of metalwork or died.

Results: 80 spinal infections following instrumented fusions were found between 1997 and 2003. 34 of the infecting organisms were propionibacteria, 19 were coagulase negative staphylococcus, 10 were staphylococcus aureus, 8 were methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus, 3 were coliforms, 2 were proteus, 2 were diphtheroids, 1 was alpha haemolytic streptococcus and 1 was anaerobic streptococcus. 29 of these infections were polymicrobial. Of 55 patients who had metalwork removed secondary to pain, 20 patients had proven infection postoperatively (36.3%). Preoperative inflammatory markers failed to accurately predict the presence of infection for trauma patients. Our management of infection is removal of metalwork with six intraoperative samples sent for culture and histology specimens, followed by administration of at least six weeks of intravenous or oral antibiotic, depending on the organism and its antibiotic sensitivity. Prolonged treatment is used where inflammatory markers remain raised.

Conclusions: Infection of spinal implants presents different management problems to those which follow infected total joint replacement. The lack of specific clinical, laboratory and radiological findings in patients who are subsequently diagnosed as having infections associated with spinal instrumentation presents a challenging clinical problem. We found the most predictive sign of infection following instrumented fusion of scoliotic spines was postoperative pain. CRP and ESR were unreliable as predictors of infection.

Objective: To assess the cardiology of continuous ECG of Spinal Surgeons performing complex spinal deformity surgery.

Design: Spinal surgeons were attached to 24 hour tape ECG monitors while performing spinal deformity surgery. Pre op, intra-op and immediate post op assessment were performed.

Subjects: 4 Consultants 1 Spinal Fellow

Outcome measures: ECG changes, Heart Rate variance and Heart Rate

Results: Variability in Heart rate was related to the experience of the surgeon and the case performed.

Heart rate variance was highest in the Consultant with the most recent appointment. Heart rate variance in the Trainee was the lowest. The highest heart rate was achieved when scrubbed supervising the surgical trainee. The surgeons with the highest deformity work load had the lowest intra-operative heart rate

Conclusions: Spinal deformity surgery is stressful to the Consultant performing the case. Experience and case mix affect these findings. The highest stress rate occurs with supervising trainees.