Latest developments in minimally invasive spinal treatment in Slovakia and its comparison with an open approach for the treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases

The study describes the benefits of MIS-TLIF (minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion) and compares them with OTLIF (open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion). It compares blood loss, length of hospitalization stays (LOS), operation time, and return of the patient to the environment. A total of 250 adults (109 males and 141 females), mean age 59.5 & PLUSMN; 12.6, who underwent MIS-TLIF in the Neurosurgery Clinic (NSC) Ruzomberok, Slovakia, because of lumbar degenerative diseases (LDD), participated in this retrospective study. Data were obtained from the patients' medical records and from the standardized Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) index questionnaire. To compare ODI in our study sample, we used the Student's Paired Sample Test. To compare the MIS-TLIF and OTLIF approaches, a meta-analysis was conducted. Confidence intervals were 95% CI. The test of homogeneity (Chi-square (Q)) and the degree of heterogeneity (I-2 test) among the included studies were used. Statistical analyses were two-sided (& alpha; = 0.05). All monitored parameters were significantly better in MIS-TLIF group: blood loss (p < 0.001), operation time (p < 0.001), and ODI changes (p < 0.001). LOS (p < 0.042) were close to the significance level. ODI in the study sample decreased by 33.44% points after MIS-TLIF, and it significantly increased as well (p < 0.001). The percentage of patients who were satisfied with the surgery they underwent was 84.8%. The study confirmed that the MIS-TLIF method is in general gentler for the patient and allows the faster regeneration of patient's health status compared to OTLIF

Associations between prevalence of chronic diseases and socio-economic status in adult population of Slovakia

INTRODUCTION: The study presents associations between prevalence of chronic diseases and selected socio-economic (SES) attributes in adult population of Slovakia and analyses the prevalence of chronic diseases in regions of Slovakia. METHODS: In total, 735 respondents (146 men and 589 women) with a mean age of 37.79 ± 13.6 participated in this cross-sectional study. The main observed characteristics were chronic diseases and their associations with SES attributes, namely household income, education, age and lifestyle represented by frequency in engaging in recondition-relaxation activities. In order to obtain data, a self-administrated online questionnaire was used. Data were analysed by calculation of odds ratio and chi-square test. The significance level was set at 0.05. RESULTS: Apart from lung disease which are least suffered in central Slovakia (χ2 = 9.850, df = 1, p = 0.043), the prevalence of chronic diseases is equally represented in all 8 administrative regions of Slovakia. Prev alence of chronic diseases is significantly influenced by age. The age of 40 is critical for the occurrence of chronic diseases. Respondents with higher education level have a lower prevalence of chronic diseases and vice versa (OR = 1.127; RR = 1.079). A better lifestyle represented by higher frequency of engaging in recondition relaxation activities was found in healthy respondents (OR = 0.700549 and RR = 0.936958; χ2 test p = 0.000798). Household income did not show a significant association with the prevalence of chronic diseases (OR = 1.06; RR = 1.025; χ2 test, p = 0.778). CONCLUSION: The study did not confirm a higher prevalence of chronic diseases in regions with weaker SES in Slovakia. Out of the 4 monitored SES attributes, 3 of them (age, education and lifestyle) had a significant impact on the prevalence of chronic diseases. Household income showed only a minimal association with the prevalence of chronic diseases, but this interdependence was not significant (Tab. 6, Ref. 41)

Rodzina w zdrowiu i w chorobie. Uwarunkowania środowiskowe zdrowia

Praca recenzowana / peer-reviewed pape