Regional and experiential differences in surgeon preference for the treatment of cervical facet injuries: a case study survey with the AO Spine Cervical Classification Validation Group

Purpose: The management of cervical facet dislocation injuries remains controversial. The main purpose of this investigation was to identify whether a surgeon’s geographic location or years in practice influences their preferred management of traumatic cervical facet dislocation injuries. Methods: A survey was sent to 272 AO Spine members across all geographic regions and with a variety of practice experience. The survey included clinical case scenarios of cervical facet dislocation injuries and asked responders to select preferences among various diagnostic and management options. Results: A total of 189 complete responses were received. Over 50% of responding surgeons in each region elected to initiate management of cervical facet dislocation injuries with an MRI, with 6 case exceptions. Overall, there was considerable agreement between American and European responders regarding management of these injuries, with only 3 cases exhibiting a significant difference. Additionally, results also exhibited considerable management agreement between those with ≤ 10 and > 10 years of practice experience, with only 2 case exceptions noted. Conclusion: More than half of responders, regardless of geographical location or practice experience, identified MRI as a screening imaging modality when managing cervical facet dislocation injuries, regardless of the status of the spinal cord and prior to any additional intervention. Additionally, a majority of surgeons would elect an anterior approach for the surgical management of these injuries. The study found overall agreement in management preferences of cervical facet dislocation injuries around the globe

Resultados de biopsia guiada por tomografía axial computarizada en el síndrome de destrucción vertebral, evaluados en dos instituciones distintas

OBJETIVO: Comparar resultados de biopsias vertebrales guiadas por tomografía axial computarizada, reportados por dos servicios de Anatomía Patológica distintos en pacientes con síndrome de destrucción vertebral para confirmar confiabilidad y utilidad en el diagnóstico. MÉTODOS: Se obtuvieron muestras de tejido de 21 pacientes en el periodo comprendido del 1 de marzo al 15 de julio del 2011 con el diagnóstico del síndrome de destrucción vertebral y a quienes se les realizó biopsia guiada por tomografía axial computarizada. Las muestras se enviaron en forma cegada a dos servicios de patología distintos. Los resultados fueron analizados con el método de comparación de dos proporciones. RESULTADOS: 14 pacientes fueron del género masculino (67%) y 7 del femenino (23%), edades de 28-82, con afección principalmente lumbar (48%) y torácica (38%); afectados en una vértebra en 62%, en dos en un 33% y en 3 o más niveles en 5%. Las vértebras más afectadas fueron L1, L2 y L3 (12/30 [40%]), T4 (3/30 [10%]) y T9 (3/30 [10%]). Los resultados se agruparon en categorías: 1. Osteomielitis (9/21 [43%]), 2. Tumores (7/21 [33%]), 3. Metástasis (3/21 [14%]), 4. Tejido normal (2/21 [10%]), 5. Inflamación (0/21 [0%]), 6. Muestra inadecuada (0/21 [0%]), 7. Mal de Pott (0/21 [0%]). CONCLUSIONES: De acuerdo a los valores de Z obtenidos mediante la prueba de comparación de dos proporciones no se encontró diferencia significativa entre los resultados reportados por dos los dos servicios de patología en el síndrome estudiado, determinándose que esta parte del proceso es confiable y útil en un 90%

Evaluación de una nueva sistematización de estudios para el diagnóstico del síndrome de destrucción vertebral Avaliação de nova sistematização de exames para o diagnóstico da síndrome de destruição vertebral Evaluation of a new systematization of tests for the diagnosis of vertebral destruction syndrome

OBJETIVO: Explorar la efectividad de un conjunto de pruebas de diagnósticos, sistematizadas en hoja de protocolo, para la determinación del Síndrome de Destrucción Vertebral en pacientes de nuestro servicio. MÉTODOS: Analizamos una propuesta de sistematización mediante un estudio piloto de 20 pacientes a quienes se realizaron 10 diferentes pruebas de laboratorio y gabinete, además del estudio histopatológico de biopsia percutánea. Se describieron las características demográficas y clínicas, con los resultados obtenidos mediante estadística descriptiva, media y desviación estándar para las variables cuantitativas y porcentajes para las cualitativas. RESULTADOS: Edad promedio de 53,3 años ± 16,56 años; 10 hombres y 10 mujeres. 30 vértebras afectadas en los 20 pacientes, 8 de ellos tuvieron afección de dos o más vértebras. El nivel más afectado fue el Lumbar en 18 casos, seguido por el Torácico en 12. El Mal de Pott se diagnosticó en 7 casos (35%), Osteomielitis en 4 (20%), Mieloma Múltiple en 2 (10%), y Espondilodiscitis, Metástasis de Adenocarcinoma, Linfoma y Osteoporosis en un caso respectivamente (5%). En 3 casos (15%) no se obtuvo un diagnóstico específico. CONCLUSIONES: Esta propuesta de sistematización fue útil para llegar al diagnóstico etiológico definitivo del SDV en 85% de los casos, con la reducción en la cantidad de estudios realizados. Es necesario mayor número de pacientes para aumentar la evidencia de su utilidad.<br>OBJETIVO: Explorar a efetividade de um conjunto de exames diagnósticos sistematizados em folha de protocolo para determinação da síndrome de destruição vertebral em pacientes atendidos em nosso serviço. MÉTODOS: Analisamos uma proposta de sistematização por meio de estudo piloto de 20 pacientes que foram submetidos a dez exames laboratoriais e de imagens distintos, além do estudo histopatológico de biópsia percutânea. Foram descritas as características demográficas e clínicas e os resultados foram obtidos por estatística descritiva, média e desvio padrão para as variáveis quantitativas e porcentagens para as qualitativas. RESULTADOS: Média de idade de 53,3 ± 16,56 anos; 10 homens e 10 mulheres. Trinta vértebras afetadas nos 20 pacientes; 8 deles tinham afecção em duas ou mais vértebras. O nível mais afetado foi o lombar em 18 casos, seguido pelo torácico em 12. A tuberculose da coluna vertebral (doença de Pott) foi diagnosticada em 7 casos (35%), a osteomielite, em 4 (20%), o mieloma múltiplo, em 2 (10%) discite, metástase de adenocarcinoma, linfoma e osteoporose, cada um em um caso (5%). Em 3 casos (15%) não se obteve diagnóstico específico. CONCLUSÕES: Esta proposta de sistematização foi útil para chegar ao diagnóstico etiológico definitivo da SDV em 85% dos casos, com redução da quantidade de exames realizados. É preciso estudar um número maior de pacientes para aumentar a evidência de sua utilidade.<br>OBJECTIVE: To explore the effectiveness of a systematic set of diagnostic tests in a protocol sheet for determination of vertebral destruction syndrome in patients treated in our service. METHODS: We analysed a proposal for systematization through a pilot study of 20 patients who underwent 10 different laboratory and imaging tests, as well as the histopathological study through percutaneous biopsy. We described the demographic and clinical characteristics and likewise the results obtained by means of descriptive statistics, mean and standard deviation for quantitative variables and percentage for qualitative variables. RESULTS: Average age of 53.3 ± 16.56 years; 10 men and 10 women. Thirty vertebrae affected in 20 patients; 8 patients had disease in two or more vertebrae. The most affected level was the lumbar in 18 cases, followed by thoracic in 12. The spinal tuberculosis (Pott's disease) was detected in 7 cases (35%), osteomyelitis in 4 (20%), multiple myeloma, in 2 (10%), and discitis, metastasis of adenocarcinoma, lymphoma and osteoporosis in one case (5%). In 3 cases (15%) there was no specific diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: This proposal of systematization was useful to reach the final etiological diagnosis of the VDS in 85% of cases, with the reduction in the number of tests. It is necessary to study a larger number of patients to increase the evidence of its usefulness

Time to surgery for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: How long does it take? A multicenter study

Study design: Retrospective review of multicentric data. Objectives: To estimate the time from initial visit to surgery in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients and the main reasons for the time to surgery in a multicenter study. Methods: This retrospective study evaluated 509 patients with AIS from 16 hospitals across six Latin American countries. From each hospital's deformity registry, the following patient data were extracted: demographics, main curve Cobb angle, Lenke Classification at the initial visit and time of surgery, time from indication-for-surgery to surgery, curve progression, Risser skeletal-maturity score and causes for surgical cancelation or delay. Surgeons were asked if they needed to change the original surgical plan due to curve progression. Data also were collected on each hospital's waiting list numbers and mean delay to AIS surgery. Results: 66.8% of the patients waited over six months and 33.9% over a year. Waiting time was not impacted by the patient's age when surgery first became indicated (p = 0.22) but waiting time did differ between countries (p < 0.001) and hospitals (p < 0.001). Longer time to surgery was significantly associated with increasing magnitude of the Cobb angle through the second year of waiting (p < 0.001). Reported causes for delay were hospital-related (48.4%), economic (47.3%), and logistic (4.2%). Oddly, waiting time for surgery did not correlate with the hospital's reported waiting-list lengths (p = 0.57) Conclusion: Prolonged waits for AIS surgery are common in Latin America, with rare exceptions. At most centers, patients wait over six months, most commonly for economic and hospital-related reasons. Whether this directly impacts surgical outcomes in Latin America still must be studied