Proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) is defined as adjacent segment kyphosis >10° between the upper instrumented vertebrae and the vertebrae 2 levels above following scoliosis surgery. There are few studies investigating the predictors and clinical sequelae involved with this relatively common complication. Our purpose was to determine the radiographic predictors of post-op PJK and to examine the association between PJK and pain/HRQOL following surgery for AIS.

The Post-Operative Recovery after Scoliosis Correction: Home Experience (PORSCHE) study was a prospective multicenter cohort of AIS patients undergoing spinal fusion surgery. Pre-op and minimum 2 year f/u scoliosis and sagittal spinopelvic parameters (thoracic kyphosis–TK, lordosis–LL, pelvic tilt-PT, sacral slope-SS, pelvic incidence-PI) were measured and compared to numeric rating scale for pain (NRS) score, SRS-30 HRQOL and to the presence or absence of PJK (proximal junctional angle >100). Continuous and categorical variables were assessed using logistic regression and binomial variables were compared to binomial outcomes using chi-square.

163 (137 females) patients from 8 Canadian centers met inclusion criteria. At final f/u, PJK was present in 27 patients (17%). Pre-op means for PJK vs No PJK: Age 14.1 vs 14.7yr; females 85 vs 86%; scoliosis 57±22 vs 62±15deg; TK 28±18 vs 19±16deg ∗, LL 62±11 vs 60±12deg, PT 8±12 vs 10±10deg, SS 39±8 vs 41±9deg, PI 47±14 vs 52±13deg, SVA −9±30 vs −7±31mm. Final f/u for PJK vs No PJK: Scoliosis 20±11 vs 18±8deg, final TK 26±12 vs 19±10deg∗, LL 60±11 vs 57±12deg, PT 9±12 vs 12±13deg, SS 39±9 vs 41±9deg, PI 48±17 vs 52±14deg, SVA −23±26 vs −9±32mm∗. Significant findings: Pre-op kyphosis >40deg has an odds ratio (OR) of 4.41 (1.50–12.92) for developing PJK∗. The presence of PJK was not associated with any significant differences in NRS or SRS-30. ∗denotes p<0.05.

This prospective multicenter cohort of AIS patients demonstrated a 17% risk of developing PJK. Pre-op thoracic kyphosis >40deg was associated with the development of PJK; however, the presence of PJK was not associated with increased pain or decreased HRQOL.

Aims

The aims of this systematic review were to describe the quantity and methodological quality of meta-analyses in orthopaedic surgery published during the last 17 years.

To determine if there are osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesions of the knee that are so unstable on MRI that they are incapable of healing without operative intervention. A secondary objective was to determine the ability of orthopaedic residents to accurately grade OCD lesions according to the Kijowski criteria of stable and unstable.

A retrospective review was performed of patients who had femoral condyle OCD lesions from 2009-present. Only patients with open growth plates and serial MRIs were included. Each MRI was classified according to the Kijowski classification by a junior orthopaedic surgery resident as well as an MSK trained radiologist. A weighted kappa value was used to assess the inter-rater agreement.

The final analysis included 16 patients (17 knees) with 49 MRI's. The weighted kappa agreement between reviewers for overall lesion stability was moderate (0.570 [95% CI 0.237–0.757]). The initial MRI lesion was graded as stable in 59% (10/17) of the knees. Two of these 10 knees became unstable during the study period, however, both stabilised again on subsequent MRIs, one with surgery and the other without surgery. The initial MRI was graded as unstable in 41% (7/17) of the knees. Two of the seven knees (29%) later demonstrated MRI evidence of lesion stability without surgical intervention.

The most important finding in this study was the ability of unstable OCD lesions on MRI to heal without operative intervention. The ability of an orthopaedic surgery resident to grade these lesions on MRI was moderate.

Introduction: Preliminary studies suggest that prolonged retraction of the paraspinal muscle during spinal surgery may produce ischaemic damage. We describe the continuous measurement of intramuscular pressures (IMP) during decompressive lumbar laminectomy and the relationship to back pain and disability.

Methods: In this prospective interventional study, 28 patients undergoing surgery for lumbar canal stenosis were recruited. Back pain and function were assessed using the Visual Analogue Score (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Short Form 36 (SF36) health survey. During surgery, IMP was continuously recorded from the multifidus muscle using a pressure transducer. The intramuscular perfusion pressure (IPP) was derived as the difference between the patient’s mean arterial pressure (MAP) and IMP (IPP = MAP − IMP). The data was analysed using repeated measures ANOVA (SPSS package).

Results: The mean age was 60.4 ± 3 years and the mean duration of symptoms of 31.0 ± 6 months. The predominant symptoms were neurogenic claudication (14) and/or sciatica (13). Patients underwent 1 (N=3), 2 (N=20) or 3 (N=5) level laminectomies. The muscle retractors used were Norfolk and Norwich (N=16) and McCullock (N=12). The mean duration of deep muscle retraction was 68.5 ± 9 mins (range 19–240). On application of deep muscle retraction, there was a rapid and sustained increase in IMP (F=26.8; p< 0.001; repeated measures ANOVA), and overall the calculated mean IPP approached 0 mmHg or less during this period (F=36.8; p< 0.001). On release of deep muscle retraction there was a rapid decrease in IMP to pre-operative levels. The IPP was greater with Norfolk and Norwich than McCullock retractors (F=12.2; p< 0.001). Compared to pre-operative values, there was a decrease in ODI (F=18.6; p< 0.001) and VAS for back pain (F=9.9; p< 0.001) at discharge, 4–6 weeks and 6 months, post-operatively. Compared to pre-operative values, there was a decrease in SF36 scores at 6 months (F=26.7; p< 0.001). Total duration of muscle retraction over 60 mins was associated with higher VAS scores for back pain at 4–6 weeks and 6 months postoperatively (F=3.7; p< 0.01). There was no relationship between IPP and post-operative ODI or VAS for back pain.

Conclusions: This study demonstrates a simple technique for the continuous monitoring of IMP during spinal surgery, from which the IPP can be derived. Comparison of two muscle retractors has shown that the McCullock retractor generates a higher IMP than Norfolk and Norwich retractor. Decompressive lumbar laminectomy improves the VAS for back pain and ODI and SF36 outcome scores in these patients. The results show that duration of muscle retraction, rather than extent of the pressure generated by the retractor, is related to postoperative back pain.