The role of spinopelvic parameters in clinical outcomes of spinal osteotomies in patients with sagittal imbalance

Background: Sagittal imbalance is known as the main radiographic driver of disability in adult spinal deformity (ASD). In this study, the association of radiological spinopelvic parameters and clinical outcomes was evaluated following the corrective surgery of sagittal imbalance, in order to explore the predictive ability of each parameter. Methods: A total of 23 patients, who underwent corrective osteotomy for restoration of sagittal balance, were included in this study. The mean follow-up period of the patients was 15.5±2.1, ranging from 12 to 18 months. Pre- and postoperative radiological parameters including pelvic tilt (PT), sagittal vertical axis (SVA) and pelvic incidence minus lumbar lordosis (PI-LL) were assessed for each patient. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using Oswestry disability Index (ODI). Results: The mean ODI improved 32 following the corrective osteotomy of sagittal imbalance. Postoperative ODI was significantly correlated with all preoperative radiological parameters (r=0.608, P=0.002 for PI-LL; r=0.483, P=0.01 for PT; and r=0.464, P=0.02 for SVA). ODI improvement was significantly correlated with PI-LL and SVA change (r=536, P=0.008 and r=416, P=0.04, respectively), but not with PT change (r=247, P=0.25). The outcome was better in pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO) compared to Smith-Petersen Osteotomy (SPO). Conclusion: Surgical correction of sagittal imbalance could limit the amount of disability caused by this misalignment. According to our results, while all the spinopelvic parameters could be used in the prediction of the outcomes of corrective surgery of sagittal imbalance, PI-LL was the most informative parameter and more attention should be devoted to this parameter. © 2018 By The Archives of Bone and Joint Surgery

Long-term outcome of posterior spinal fusion for the correction of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

Background: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is the most common form of idiopathic scoliosis, and surgery is considered as one of the therapeutic options. However, it is associated with a variety of irreversible complications, in spite of the benefits it provides. Here, we evaluated the long-term outcome of posterior spinal fusion (PSF) of AIS to shed more light on the consequences of this surgery. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, a total of 42 AIS patients who underwent PSF surgery were radiographically and clinically inspected for the potential post-operative complications. Radiographic assessments included the device failure, union status, and vertebral tilt below the site of fusion. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Oswestry disability index (ODI) and visual analogue scale (VAS). Results: The mean age of the surgery was 14.4 ± 5.1 years. The mean follow-up of the patients was 5.6 ± 3.2 years. Complete union was observed in all patients, and no device failure was noticed. Pre- and post-operative vertebral tilt below the site of fusion were 11.12° ± 7.92° and 6.21° ± 5.73°, respectively (p < 0.001). The mean post-operative ODI was 16.7 ± 9.8. The mean post-operative VAS was 2.1 ± 0.7. ODI value was positively correlated with follow-up periods (p = 0.04, r = 0.471). New degenerative disc disease (DDD) was observed in 6 out of 37 (16) patients. Conclusion: In spite of the efficacy and safety of PSF surgery of AIS, it might result in irreversible complications such as DDD. Moreover, the amount of post-operative disability might increase over the time and should be discussed with the patients. © 2018 The Author(s)

Short-term efficacy of epidural injection of triamcinolone through translaminar approach for the treatment of lumbar canal stenosis

Background: Epidural steroid injection is a non-operative minimally invasive procedure for pain relief in spinal canal stenosis. However, there is no significant consensus regarding its efficacy. Objectives: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of translaminar injection of triamcinolone in lumbar canal stenosis. Methods: In a retrospective study, we included 111 patients with MRI-confirmed spinal canal stenosis who were irresponsive to 12 weeks of conservative treatment and underwent epidural injection of triamcinolone through the translaminar approach. Outcome measures were routinely checked before the intervention and four weeks after the intervention, which included the Visual Analog scale (VAS) for low back pain, VAS for lower-limb pain, and Oswestry Disability index (ODI). Results: The study population included 32 (28.8) males and 79 (71.2) females with the mean age of 61 ± 13.4 years. The mean ODI, VAS for low back pain, and VAS for lower-limb pain significantly improved at the final evaluation session (P < 0.001, P = 0.001, and P < 0.001, respectively). The levels of improvement in ODI, VAS for low back pain, and VAS for lower-limb pain were considerably more in patients with single-level involvement (P < 0.001, P = 0.04, and P < 0.001, respectively). Improvement of lower-limb VAS was negatively correlated with age (r =-0.400, P < 0.001) and BMI (r =-0.525, P < 0.001). The ODI improvement was also negatively correlated with BMI (r =-0.569, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Epidural injection of triamcinolone through the translaminar approach could be regarded as an efficacious method for the alleviation of pain and disability in patients with spinal canal stenosis. © 2020, Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

Magnetic resonance imaging investigations of position of conus medullaris in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis as a peripheral neuropathy

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a structural 3-dimensional deformity the spine, which is occurring between 10 years of age and skeletal maturity and it mostly affects prepuberbal girls. The etiology of AIS remains unknown and seems should be multifactorial. According to the theories, there could be a shorter spinal cord or a higher location of the conus medullaris and disproportionate growth in neuro-osseous system. This study wants to investigate the position of the conus medullaris in AIS patients with a large curve magnitude in comparison with healthy adolescents. 94 AIS patients consisting of 25 males and 69 females between 11 and 25 years old, based on physical examination and standing posteroanterior roentgenography of the total spine with a Cobb angle more than 40 degrees was chosen. The main curve magnitude of every AIS patient was measured by the Cobb method. Apex of deformity was determined based on SRS definition. Patients� deformity were calcified based on Lenke classification. Magnetic resonance imaging examinations of the total spine were performed in the AIS group, by means of a 1.5-T magnetic resonance imaging system. The position of conus medullaris was defined according to the method by saffiudin et al and was assessed based on the age, sex, type of deformity, severity of deformity, kyphosis, lordosis, flexibility, apical vertebra, stable vertebra. The mean age of patients were 16.34 with 6.77 of conus medullaris position in mean, which was lower one-third of L1. Our study showed no significant correlation between the position of conus medullaris with age, weight, preoperative curve, flexibility, types of deformity based on Lenke classification and degree of kyphosis and lordisis. In conclusion, there is the same mean and the distribution of the conus medullaris locations for AIS patients and normal populations. © 2015, E-Century Publishing Corporation. All rights reserved