Histological remodelling of demineralised bone matrix allograft in posterolateral fusion of the spine - an ex vivo study

BACKGROUND: Demineralised bone matrix (DBM) has shown to be effective in enhancing posterior fusion of the spine. Several animal studies and clinical investigations in humans showed its successful remodelling. The use of allogenic matrix may decrease the need of autologous bone graft and therefore helps prevent corresponding donor site morbidity. Since DBM products are very expensive, the question arises, whether it is completely remodelled into new bone, and therefore truly is comparable to autologous cancellous bone graft. To our knowledge there is no report of a consecutive series of patients where ex vivo histological analysis after postero-lateral fusion of the spine was performed. METHODS: Osseous biopsies of nine consecutive patients who underwent postero-lateral fusion of the spine for trauma were obtained at the time of elective removal of the hardware. Histological samples were then analyzed on ground and thin sections stained with toluidine blue and von Kossa stainings. RESULTS: Time span between index operation and removal of the metal ranged between 6 and 18 month. Histological analysis showed good incorporation and overall remodelling of DBM into new bone in all patients. No foreign body reaction was visible and new bone formation progressed time dependently with DBM in situ. Four out of nine patients showed more than 50% new bone formation after one year. CONCLUSION: DBM shows good overall remodelling properties in histological analysis and therefore seems to be an effective adjunct in postero-lateral fusion of the spine. Furthermore, DBM substitution increases over time

Conduta na lesão dural intraoperatória em artrodese da coluna lombar Conducta en lesión de duramadre intraoperatoria en artrodesis de la columna lumbar Management of intraoperatory dural tear in lumbar spine arthrodesis

OBJETIVO: estudo retrospectivo de pacientes com lesão dural intraoperatória de cirurgia da coluna vertebral lombar, conduzido por meio de um protocolo independente da extensão da lesão, complicações associadas e resultados após seguimento mínimo de um ano. MÉTODOS: um total de 10 pacientes com durotomia acidental em cirurgias de descompressão e artrodese da coluna vertebral lombar, no período de Janeiro de 2007 a Janeiro de 2009, para tratamento de doença degenerativa, tiveram seus prontuários revisados, após terem sido tratados por meio de um protocolo embasado em reparo primário da lesão, drenagem subaracnoidea fechada, subfascial e subcutânea aspirativa realizados por cirurgião experiente, associado a repouso relativo com mobilidade precoce e terapia medicamentosa. Suas anotações e exames radiológicos foram verificados com seguimento pós-operatório e direcionados para identificação de sintomas sugestivos de complicações. RESULTADOS: todos os pacientes apresentaram boa evolução, sem ocorrência de fístula liquórica ou infecção pós-operatória; três deles apresentaram cefaleia pós-operatória de leve intensidade. Não houve necessidade de reoperação em nenhum desses pacientes. CONCLUSÃO: concluiu-se que a conduta adotada é segura e de bom resultado para os pacientes quando ocorre esse tipo de lesão, independentemente da extensão da mesma.<br>OBJETIVO: un estudio retrospectivo de pacientes con lesión de la duramadre intraoperatoria de cirugía en la columna lumbar, llevada a cabo por medio de un protocolo independiente de la extensión de la lesión, complicaciones asociadas y los resultados de seguimiento después de un mínimo de un año. MÉTODOS: 10 pacientes con durotomía accidental en la descompresión quirúrgica y artrodesis de la columna vertebral lumbar, en el período de enero de 2007 a enero de 2009, para el tratamiento de enfermedades degenerativas, tuvieron sus registros revisados después de tendieren sido tratados por un protocolo basado en la reparación primaria de la lesión, subaracnoidea drenaje cerrado, aspiración subfascial y subcutánea realizada por cirujanos con experiencia, combinada con el reposo relativo, con la movilización precoz y el tratamiento farmacológico. Sus notas y las imágenes fueron verificadas con el seguimiento postoperatorio y direccionadas para la identificación de síntomas sugestivos de complicaciones. RESULTADOS: todos los pacientes tuvieron buena evolución, sin registro de pérdidas de líquido cefalorraquídeo o infección postoperatoria, tres tuvieron cefalea en el postoperatorio de intensidad leve. No hubo necesidad de reintervención en esos pacientes. CONCLUSIÓN: la conducta adoptada es segura y con buen resultado para pacientes en los que este tipo de lesión se produce, independiente de la extensión de la misma.<br>OBJECTIVE: a retrospective study of patients with spinal dural intraoperative lumbar spine surgery, conducted by means of a protocol regardless of the extent of the injury, associated complications and follow-up results after a minimum of one year. METHODS: a total of 10 patients with accidental durotomy in surgical decompression and arthrodesis of the lumbar spine during the period from January 2007 to January 2009 for treatment of degenerative disease had their records reviewed after being treated by a protocol based in primary repair of the lesion, closed subarachnoid drainage, subfascial and subcutaneous aspiration drainage performed by experienced surgeons, combined with relative rest with early mobilization and drug therapy. Their notes and imaging were verified with follow-up aimed to identify symptoms that could suggest complications. RESULTS: all patients had a good outcome, without occurrence of cerebrospinal fluid leaks or postoperative infection; three had postoperative headache of mild intensity. There was no need for reoperation in these patients. CONCLUSION: we concluded that the conduct adopted is safe and has a good outcome for patients when this type of injury occurs, regardless of its extent

Dural lesions in lumbar disc herniation surgery: incidence, risk factors, and outcome

In lumbar disc herniation surgery, dural lesions seem to be the most common complication today. Studies on incidence of and outcome after a dural lesion are mainly based on retrospective studies. In a prospective study within the framework of the Swedish Spine Register, 4,173 patients operated on for lumbar disc herniation were evaluated using pre- and 1-year postoperative protocols and complication registration. Mean patient age was 41 (18–81) years and 53% of the patients were male. 93% of the operations were performed on the two lowermost lumbar levels. The incidence of dural lesions in the material was 2.7%. In patients with previous disc surgery, the incidence was doubled, 5%, a significant increase (P = 0.02). Patients with dural lesions preoperatively had more back pain and inferior scores in general health and role emotional domains of the SF-36. These factors, however, were because they had been operated on previously, not related to the dural lesion as such. The relative improvement after surgery was similar whether a dural lesion had occurred or not. It is concluded that a dural lesion is a technical complication which must be solved at the time of surgery but which does not bear any negative implications on the long-term outcome for the patient

The patient’s perspective on complications after spine surgery

Recent years have witnessed a paradigm shift in relation to the assessment of outcome in spine surgery: multidimensional patient-centred questionnaires have superseded traditional surgeon-based ratings of outcome, and surgical registries have been developed to capitalise on the principle of “strength in numbers.” However, the assessment of complications has not enjoyed this same enlightened patient-centred approach. The present study investigated post-surgical complications from the patient’s perspective. All German-speaking patients undergoing surgery within our Spine Center in 2005 were asked to complete the patient-orientated Core Measures Outcome Index of the SSE Spine Tango Spine Surgery Registry before and 12 months after surgery; the surgeon completed a Spine Tango surgery form. In the 12-month questionnaire, the patient was asked, “did any complications arise as a consequence of your operation 1 year ago (e.g. problems with wound healing, paralysis, sensory disturbances, etc.)? If so, give details.” Patients were also asked about their satisfaction with the operation and the global outcome of surgery. 1,035 patients were sent a 12-month questionnaire; 972 (94%) returned the completed questionnaire. 29% patients answered “yes” to the question about complications. The incidence of patient-rated complications was significantly associated with outcome/satisfaction (P < 0.05), suggesting these complications were not trivial to the patient. The results indicate that, just like outcome, “complications” should be assessed from both the patient’s and the surgeon’s perspectives, not least to better understand the reasons accounting for dissatisfaction and a poor patient-rated outcome