European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society
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We retrospectively analysed ten consecutive patients (age range 32-77 years) treated surgically from 1994 to 1999 for symptomatic thoracic disc herniation between the 6th and 12th thoracic discs. Clinically, eight patients had varying grades of back pain and eight patients had paraparesis. Radiography showed calcification in 50% of the herniated discs. ⋯ He developed severe back pain and generalised hyper-reflexia following corpectomy and fusion for disc herniation at T10/11. We advocate anterior transthoracic discectomy following partial corpectomy for symptomatic thoracic disc herniation between the 6th and 12th thoracic discs. This procedure offers improved access to the thoracic disc for an instrumented fusion, which is likely to decrease the risk of iatrogenic injury to the spinal cord.
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A newly designed technique for a minimally invasive approach to the laterally herniated disc is presented. Fifteen patients suffering from far lateral disc herniation (extraforaminal) were operated according to this technique. Through a small skin incision (1.5 cm), the paraspinal muscles are spread by dilators, until a working channel of 9 mm inner diameter and 11 mm outer diameter can be placed. ⋯ No intra-operative or early postoperative complications occurred. However, one recurrence did occur, which was treated by the same technique. This technique combines the advantages of three-dimensional visual control (operating microscope) with the minimal surgical trauma of endoscopic techniques, while avoiding some of the shortcomings of both the microsurgical and endoscopic techniques.
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The aim of the study was to develop an insight into the impairments in spinal fracture patients, operatively treated with an internal fixator, and also into their ability to participate in daily living, return to work and quality of life as defined by the World Health Organization. Nineteen patients operated for a type A fracture of the thoracolumbar spine (T9-L4) between 1993 and 1998 in the University Hospital Groningen, the Netherlands, aged between 18 and 60 years, without neurological deficit were included in the study. Operative treatment consisted of fracture reduction and internal fixation using the Universal Spine System, combined with transpedicular cancellous bone grafting and dorsal spondylodesis. ⋯ In this matter, leg (muscle) performance seems a more important factor than overall condition (VO2-max). The results of the study indicate that patients with thoracolumbar spinal fractures without neurological deficit, treated with dorsal instrumentation, perform like healthy people 3-8 years after injury, according to the RMDQ, VAS Spine Score and SF36 results. Physical capacity tests reveal that leg (muscle) performance seems a more important factor in impairment than arm lift or overall condition.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Predictive factors for the outcome of anterior cervical decompression and fusion.
In a prospective study, 103 patients were randomised to anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) with a cervical carbon-fibre intervertebral fusion cage or the Cloward procedure. Preoperative background variables, active range of neck motion, handgrip strength, radiological evaluation and subjective variables were used in a multiple regression model to find the strongest predictors of postoperative outcome as measured by current pain intensity and the Neck Disability Index (NDI). Male sex, greater kyphosis at the level operated on, non-smoking, a greater neck mobility in right rotation, low disability on NDI, and older age were predictors of pain reduction and explained 30% of current pain intensity at follow-up. ⋯ At follow-up about 70% of the patients still had deficit based on current pain intensity and NDI, and 44% had remaining dysfunction based on Odom's criteria. In conclusion, the multivariate analysis shows that male sex, non-smoking, greater segmental kyphosis and a low pain and disability level are preoperative predictors of a good outcome in ACDF. In addition, the study suggests the importance of other predictive variables than those studied for the outcome of ACDF.
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Review Multicenter Study Guideline
Classification and management of early complications in open lumbar microdiscectomy.
Complications and side effects in any kind of surgery, especially in spine surgery, should be evaluated to prevent those problems in the future. Since retrospective studies are of minor value and randomized controlled studies for complications are impossible to perform because of ethical and legal reasons, so-called "expert opinion" has to take their place in evidence-based medicine. On the basis of an analysis of the results of three spine centers together with the opinions of experienced spine surgeons, the authors have drawn up a classification of complications in open lumbar disc surgery and recommendations on how to manage common complications such as excessive bleeding, dural opening, nerve root lesions and recurrent disc herniation. The management of intraoperative complications should have the same training in microdiscectomy instructional courses as the operation itself.