Mid-range outcomes in 64 consecutive cases of multilevel fusion for degenerative diseases of the lumbar spine

In the treatment of multilevel degenerative disorders of the lumbar spine, spondylodesis plays a controversial role. Most patients can be treated conservatively with success. Multilevel lumbar fusion with instrumentation is associated with severe complications like failed back surgery syndrome, implant failure, and adjacent segment disease (ASD). This retrospective study examines the records of 70 elderly patients with degenerative changes or instability of the lumbar spine treated between 2002 and 2007 with spondylodesis of more than two segments. Sixty-four patients were included; 5 patients had died and one patient was lost to follow-up. We evaluated complications, clinical/radiological outcomes, and success of fusion. Flexion-extension and standing X-rays in two planes, MRI, and/or CT scans were obtained pre-operatively. Patients were assessed clinically using the Oswestry disability index (ODI) and a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Surgery performed was dorsolateral fusion (46.9%) or dorsal fusion with anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF; 53.1%). Additional decompression was carried out in 37.5% of patients. Mean follow-up was 29.4±5.4 months. Average patient age was 64.7±4.3 years. Clinical outcomes were not satisfactory for all patients. VAS scores improved from 8.6±1.3 to 5.6±3.0 pre- to post-operatively, without statistical significance. ODI was also not significantly improved (56.1±22.3 pre- and 45.1±26.4 post-operatively). Successful fusion, defined as adequate bone mass with trabeculation at the facets and transverse processes or in the intervertebral segments, did not correlate with good clinical outcomes. Thirty-five of 64 patients (54%) showed signs of pedicle screw loosening, especially of the screws at S1. However, only 7 of these 35 (20%) complained of corresponding back pain. Revision surgery was required in 24 of 64 patients (38%). Of these, indications were adjacent segment disease (16 cases), pedicle screw loosening (7 cases), and infection (one case). At follow-up of 29.4 months, patients with radiographic ASD had worse ODI scores than patients without (54.7 vs. 36.6; P<0.001). Multilevel fusion for degenerative disease still has a high rate of complications, up to 50%. The problem of adjacent segment disease after fusion surgery has not yet been solved. This study underscores the need for strict indication guidelines to perform lumbar spine fusion of more than two levels

Expression and Antimicrobial Function of Bactericidal Permeability-Increasing Protein in Cystic Fibrosis Patients

In cystic fibrosis (CF), the condition limiting the prognosis of affected children is the chronic obstructive lung disease accompanied by chronic and persistent infection with mostly mucoid strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The majority of CF patients have antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) primarily directed against the bactericidal permeability-increasing protein (BPI) potentially interfering with antimicrobial effects of BPI. We analyzed the expression of BPI in the airways of patients with CF. In their sputum samples or bronchoalveolar lavage specimens, nearly all patients expressed BPI mRNA and protein, which were mainly products of neutrophil granulocytes as revealed by intracellular staining and subsequent flow cytometry. Repeated measurements revealed consistent individual BPI expression levels during several months quantitatively correlating with interleukin-8. In vitro, P. aeruginosa isolates from CF patients initiated the rapid release of BPI occurring independently of protein de novo syntheses. Furthermore, purified natural BPI as well as a 27-mer BPI-derived peptide displayed antimicrobial activity against even patient-derived mucoid P. aeruginosa strains and bacteria resistant against all antibiotics tested. Thus, BPI that is functionally active against mucoid P. aeruginosa strains is expressed in the airways of CF patients but may be hampered by autoantibodies, resulting in chronic infection

Single-shot epidural injections in the management of radicular pain

Epidural injections are commonly used in the treatment of chronic low back pain due to symptomatic lumbar spinal disorders. The aim of the present investigation was to study their therapeutic value for different age subgroups. A consecutive series of 356 patients were treated with at least one injection, and assessed before and after injection. Significant pain reduction was observed in all age groups following a series of injections with the greatest reduction after the first one. Especially in patients younger than 50 years, pain medication could be reduced substantially. Surgery was performed in 19.4% of patients (n=69) following a series of SSPDA injections. In the current study, interlaminar steroid injections for treatment of chronic low back and radicular pain caused sufficient improvement and significant reduction of medication especially in younger patients

Orthopedic Reviews 2010; volume 2:e3 Mid-range outcomes in 64

consecutive cases of multilevel fusion for degenerative diseases of the lumbar spin

Spondylodiscitis in the elderly patient: clinical mid-term results and quality of life

Focusing on spondylodiscitis in elderly patients current literature does not contain much information

Occipital bone thickness: Implications on occipital-cervical fusion. A cadaveric study

Objective: The aim of this study was to create a map of the occipital bone using a cadaveric morphometric analysis. Material: Twelve heads, from seven male and five female cadavers, were studied. The thickness of the occipital bone was measured with a digital vernier caliper within a coordinate system. Results: The maximum thickness of the occipital bone could be measured at the external occipital protuberance (mean 15.4 mm; range 9-29.3 mm). All male individuals had higher bone thickness around this point. Further lateral a steady decrease of bone thickness could be observed. Same could be observed in craniocaudal direction. However, values above the superior nuchal line were on average thicker than below. Conclusion: The measurements demonstrated a great individual variability of bone thickness of the occipital bone. The results emphasize the role of preoperative planning for the feasibility of placement of an occipital screw. (C) 2016 Turkish Association of Orthopaedics and Traumatology. Publishing services by Elsevier B. V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license