We have investigated whether patients with adolescent-onset idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) are more likely to have a low body-weight. Measurements of weight, height and body mass index (BMI) were made in 44 young women with AIS and compared with age- and gender-adjusted normative data. The body mass criteria of the International Classification of Diseases for eating disorders was used to determine how many patients were within the range considered to be ‘eating disordered’. Compared with the normative data, the AIS group did not differ significantly in terms of height, (p = 0.646), but they were significantly lighter (p <
0.001) and had significantly lower BMI scores (p <
0.001); 25% of the series had BMI scores which were within the range considered to be anorexic. The relationship between a diagnosis of AIS and low body-weight may indicate disordered eating and is thus a cause for concern, particularly in the light of the well-established relationship between eating psychopathology and osteoporosis. Aspects of organic health may need to be considered in addition to the cosmetic deformity.
To report the outcome of spinal deformity correction through anterior spinal fusion in wheelchair-bound patients with myelomeningocele. We reviewed 12 consecutive patients (7M:5F; mean age 12.4 years (9.2 to 16.8)) including demographic details, spinopelvic parameters, surgical correction, and perioperative data. We assessed the impact of surgery on patient outcomes using the Spina Bifida Spine Questionnaire and a qualitative questionnaire.Aims
Methods
Clinical and radiological data were reviewed for all patients
with mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) with thoracolumbar kyphosis managed
non-operatively or operatively in our institution. In all 16 patients were included (eight female: eight male; 50%
male), of whom nine had Hurler, five Morquio and two Hunter syndrome.
Six patients were treated non-operatively (mean age at presentation
of 6.3 years; 0.4 to 12.9); mean kyphotic progression +1.5o/year;
mean follow-up of 3.1 years (1 to 5.1) and ten patients operatively (mean
age at presentation of 4.7 years; 0.9 to 14.4); mean kyphotic progression
10.8o/year; mean follow-up of 8.2 years; 4.8 to 11.8)
by circumferential arthrodesis with posterior instrumentation in
patients with flexible deformities (n = 6).Aims
Methods
We reviewed 34 consecutive patients (18 female-16 male) with
isthmic spondylolysis and grade I to II lumbosacral spondylolisthesis
who underwent in situ posterolateral arthodesis between the L5 transverse
processes and the sacral ala with the use of iliac crest autograft.
Ten patients had an associated scoliosis which required surgical correction
at a later stage only in two patients with idiopathic curves unrelated
to the spondylolisthesis. No patient underwent spinal decompression or instrumentation
placement. Mean surgical time was 1.5 hours (1 to 1.8) and intra-operative
blood loss 200 ml (150 to 340). There was one wound infection treated
with antibiotics but no other complication. Radiological assessment
included standing posteroanterior and lateral, Ferguson and lateral flexion/extension
views, as well as CT scans. Aims
Methods
The lack of an accurate, rapid diagnostic test
for mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) is a major handicap in the management
of spinal TB. GeneXpert, a new, rapid molecular diagnostic test
is recommended as the first line investigation for suspected pulmonary
TB in areas with a high prevalence of HIV or drug resistance, yet
it has not been validated for the diagnosis of musculoskeletal TB. The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of GeneXpert
in diagnosing spinal TB. A prospective clinical study of 69 consecutive adults with suspected
spinal TB was conducted at a tertiary hospital in an area with the
highest incidence and prevalence of TB in the world. GeneXpert was
used on tissue samples of the enrolled patients and its diagnostic
accuracy compared with a reference standard of tissue in liquid culture.
A total of 71 spine samples from 69 patients (two re-biopsies) were
included in the study. The GeneXpert test showed a sensitivity of 95.6% and specificity
of 96.2% for spinal TB. The results of the GeneXpert test were available
within 48 hours compared with a median of 35 days (IQR 15 to 43)
for cultures. All cases of multi-drug resistant TB (MDR TB) were
diagnosed accurately with the GeneXpert test. The MDR TB rate was
5.8%. Cite this article:
Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis affects about
3% of children. Non-operative measures are aimed at altering the natural
history to maintain the size of the curve below 40° at skeletal
maturity. The application of braces to treat spinal deformity pre-dates
the era of evidence-based medicine, and there is a paucity of irrefutable
prospective evidence in the literature to support their use and
their effectiveness has been questioned. This review considers this evidence. The weight of the evidence
is in favour of bracing over observation. The most recent literature
has moved away from addressing this question, and instead focuses
on developments in the design of braces and ways to improve compliance. Cite this article:
There have been few reports regarding the efficacy
of posterior instrumentation alone as surgical treatment for patients
with pyogenic spondylitis, thus avoiding the morbidity of anterior
surgery. We report the clinical outcomes of six patients with pyogenic
spondylitis treated effectively with a single-stage posterior fusion
without anterior debridement at a mean follow-up of 2.8 years (2
to 5). Haematological data, including white cell count and level
of C-reactive protein, returned to normal in all patients at a mean
of 8.2 weeks (7 to 9) after the posterior fusion. Rigid bony fusion
between the infected vertebrae was observed in five patients at
a mean of 6.3 months (4.5 to 8) post-operatively, with the remaining
patient having partial union. Severe back pain was immediately reduced
following surgery and the activities of daily living showed a marked
improvement. Methicillin-resistant Single-stage posterior fusion may be effective in patients with
pyogenic spondylitis who have relatively minor bony destruction.
