SPINE20 A global advocacy group promoting evidence-based spine care of value

PURPOSE: The Global Burden of Diseases (GBD) Studies have estimated that low back pain is one of the costliest ailments worldwide. Subsequent to GBD publications, leadership of the four largest global spine societies agreed to form SPINE20. This article introduces the concept of SPINE20, the recommendations, and the future of this global advocacy group linked to G20 annual summits. METHODS: The founders of SPINE20 advocacy group coordinated with G20 Saudi Arabia to conduct the SPINE20 summit in 2020. The summit was intended to promote evidence-based recommendations to use the most reliable information from high-level research. Eight areas of importance to mitigate spine disorders were identified through a voting process of the participating societies. Twelve recommendations were discussed and vetted. RESULTS: The areas of immediate concern were "Aging spine," "Future of spine care," "Spinal cord injuries," "Children and adolescent spine," "Spine-related disability," "Spine Educational Standards," "Patient safety," and "Burden on economy." Twelve recommendations were created and endorsed by 31/33 spine societies and 2 journals globally during a vetted process through the SPINE20.org website and during the virtual inaugural meeting November 10-11, 2020 held from the G20 platform. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first time that international spine societies have joined to support actions to mitigate the burden of spine disorders across the globe. SPINE20 seeks to change awareness and treatment of spine pain by supporting local projects that implement value-based practices with healthcare policies that are culturally sensitive based on scientific evidence

SPINE20 recommendations 2021: spine care for people's health and prosperity

PURPOSE: The focus of SPINE20 is to develop evidence-based policy recommendations for the G20 countries to work with governments to reduce the burden of spine disease, and disability. METHODS: On September 17-18, 2021, SPINE20 held its annual meeting in Rome, Italy. Prior to the meeting, the SPINE20 created six proposed recommendations. These recommendations were uploaded to the SPINE20 website 10 days before the meeting and opened to the public for comments. The recommendations were discussed at the meeting allowing the participants to object and provide comments. RESULTS: In total, 27 societies endorsed the following recommendations. SPINE20 calls upon the G20 countries: (1) to expand telehealth for the access to spine care, especially in light of the current situation with COVID-19. (2) To adopt value-based interprofessional spine care as an approach to improve patient outcomes and reduce disability. (3) To facilitate access and invest in the development of a competent rehabilitation workforce to reduce the burden of disability related to spine disorders. (4) To adopt a strategy to promote daily physical activity and exercises among the elderly population to maintain an active and independent life with a healthy spine, particularly after COVID-19 pandemic. (5) To engage in capacity building with emerging countries and underserved communities for the benefit of spine patients. (6) To promote strategies to transfer evidence-based advances into patient benefit through effective implementation processes. CONCLUSIONS: SPINE20's initiatives will make governments and decision makers aware of efforts to reduce needless suffering from disabling spine pain through education that can be instituted across the globe

Results of the spine-to-rib-cage distraction in the treatment of early onset scoliosis

BACKGROUND: Growing rod systems have been used in the last 30 years for the treatment of early onset scoliosis (EOS) with variable success rates. We report the results of treatment of EOS with a newly developed hybrid rod distraction system applied to the rib cage and spine with a nonfusion technique in a prospective multicenter clinical trial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 22 patients affected by progressive EOS resistant to cast and/or brace treatment were enrolled from 2004 to 2005 after informed consent into a trial of surgical treatment with a single spine-to-rib growing rod instrumentation growing spine profiler (GSP). Curves >60° Cobb in the frontal plane or bending < 50% were addressed with staged anterior annulotomy and fusion and posterior implantation of a GSP rod. Less severe and rigid curves were treated with posterior implantation of GSP only. The elongation of GSP was planned according to spinal growth. Patients were kept in a brace between elongations. RESULTS: A total of 20 patients were available to follow-up with complete data. The mean follow up is 4.1 years. Mean age at time of initial surgery was 5 years (3–8). Nine patients had staged antero-posterior surgeries, 11 posterior only surgeries. Mean spinal growth was 1.9 cm (1.5–2.3) or 0.5 cm per year. Mean coronal Cobb's angle correction was from 56° to 45°. Major complications affected 40% of patients and included rod failure in 6/20 and crankshaft in 5/20 (all in the anteroposterior surgery group). CONCLUSION: Treatment of EOS with spine-to-rib growing rod in the present form provides similar correction and complication rates to those published in the series considering traditional single or dual growing rod systems. Based on this, the authors recommend revision of the GSP design and a new clinical trial to test safety and efficacy

Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty: complementary tecniques for the treatment of painful osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures

OBJECTIVE: in a prospective study, we aimed to evaluate the potential use of kyphoplasty (KP) and vertebroplasty (VP) as complementary techniques in the treatment of painful osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (VCFs). METHODS: after one month of conservative treatment for VCFs, patients with intractable pain were offered treatment with KP or VP according to a treatment algorithm that considers time from fracture (Ät) and amount of Vertebral Body Collapse (VBC). Bone biopsy was obtained intraoperatively to exclude patients affected by malignancy or osteomalacia. RESULTS: hundred and sixty-four patients were included according to the above criteria. Mean age was 67.6 years. Mean followup was 33 months. Ten patients (6.1%) were lost to follow-up and 154 reached the minimum two years follow-up. 118 (69.5%) underwent VP and 36 (30.5%) underwent KP. Complications affected five patients treated with VP, whose one suffered a transient intercostal neuropathy and four a subsequent VCF (two at adjacent level). Results in terms of VAS and Oswestry scores were not different among treatment groups. CONCLUSION: in conclusion, at an average follow-up of almost 3 years from surgical treatment of osteoporotic VCFs, VP and KP show similar good clinical outcomes and appear to be complementary techniques with specific different indications

Atypical lumbar pedicle fractures. A case report and comparative review of the literature: Bisphosphonate-related? Possible matching with diagnostic criteria of atypical fractures of the femur

Introduction: Bisphosphonates are commonly used to prevent osteoporotic fractures. Many randomized controlled trials have proved the efficacy of bisphosphonates, showing their ability to increase bone mineral density and decrease the risk of hip and vertebral fractures. Atypical, bisphosphonate-related fractures concerning the femur have been widely described and a list of primary and secondary clinical and radiographic criteria are used in order to achieve diagnosis. Research question: To identify clinical and radiographic findings for a possible association of vertebral fractures to prolonged bisphosphonate therapy. Material and methods: In this paper we present a case of an atraumatic bilateral pedicle lumbar fracture, assuming the hypothesis of an insufficiency atypical fracture due to prolonged Alendronate therapy for osteoporosis. We highlight the various aspects for diagnosis, treatment and a review of the existing literature was carried out. Discussion and conclusion: Atypical fractures in the spine are rarely reported in the literature. Pedicle anatomy is partially similar to a long bone, described as a strong bridge between the posterior arch and the vertebral body composed of a cortical bone and a cancellous core. Stress fractures are reported as a result of an underlying bone disease, trauma, post-surgery and stress fractures. In our opinion, the criteria described for atypical femoral fractures are a useful tool to also classify these rare pedicle lesions as insufficiency, bisphosphonate-correlated fractures

Measurement of forces generated during distraction of growing-rods in early onset scoliosis

AIM: To measure the forces applied during distraction of growing-rods in early onset scoliosis (EOS), aimed at developing a motorized elongation device

Management of catastrophising and kinesiophobia improves rehabilitation after fusion for lumbar spondylolisthesis and stenosis. A randomised controlled trial

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of a rehabilitation programme including the management of catastrophising and kinesiophobia on disability, dysfunctional thoughts, pain, and the quality of life in patients after lumbar fusion for degenerative spondylolisthesis and/or lumbar spinal stenosis. Methods: This was a parallel-group, randomised, superiority-controlled study in which 130 patients were randomly assigned to a programme consisting of exercises and cognitive-behavioural therapy (experimental group, 65 subjects) or exercises alone (control group, 65 subjects). Before treatment (T1), 4 weeks later (post-treatment analysis, T2) and 12 months after the end of treatment (followup, T3), all the patients completed a booklet containing the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI, primary outcome), the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia, the Pain Catastrophising Scale, a pain Numerical Rating Scale, and the Short-Form Health Survey. A linear mixed model for repeated measures was used for each outcome measure. Results: The ODI linear mixed model revealed significant main effects of group (F(1,122.8) = 95.78, p < 0.001) and time (F(2,120.1) = 432.02, p < 0.001) in favour of the experimental group. There was a significant group x time interaction effect (F(2,120.1) = 20.37, p < 0.001). The analyses of all of the secondary outcome measures revealed a significant effect of time, group and interaction in favour of the experimental group. Conclusion: The rehabilitation programme, including the management of catastrophising and kinesiophobia, was superior to the exercise programme in reducing disability, dysfunctional thoughts, and pain, and enhancing the quality of life of patients after lumbar fusion for degenerative spondylolisthesis and/or LSS. The effects lasted for at least 1 year after the intervention ende