Minimally Invasive Foraminotomy through Tubular Retractors via a Contralateral Approach in Patients with Unilateral Radiculopathy

Synovial cysts of the lumbar spine result from degeneration of the facet capsule and often mimic symptoms commonly seen with herniated intervertebral discs. In symptomatic patients, the prevalence of synovial cysts may be as high as 10%. Although conservative management is possible, the majority of patients will require resection. Traditional procedures for lumbar synovial cyst resection use an ipsilateral approach requiring partial or complete resection of the ipsilateral facet complex, possibly leading to further destabilization. A contralateral technique using minimally invasive tubular retractors for synovial cyst resection avoids facet disruption. The authors report 2 cases of a minimally invasive synovial cyst resection via a contralateral laminotomy. In both cases, complete resection of the cyst was achieved while sparing the facet joint.

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Minimally invasive resection of lumbar intraspinal synovial cysts via a contralateral approach: review of 13 cases

Journal of Neurosurgery Spine ◽

10.3171/2015.1.spine14996 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 23 (4) ◽

pp. 444-450 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Hamdi G. Sukkarieh ◽

Patrick W. Hitchon ◽

Olatilewa Awe ◽

Jennifer Noeller

Keyword(s):

Blood Loss ◽

Minimally Invasive ◽

Hospital Stay ◽

Operative Time ◽

Synovial Cyst ◽

Contralateral Approach ◽

Estimated Blood Loss ◽

Synovial Cysts ◽

The Mean

OBJECT The authors sought to determine patient-related outcomes after minimally invasive surgical (MIS) lumbar intraspinal synovial cyst excision via a tubular working channel and a contralateral facet-sparing approach. METHODS All the patients with a symptomatic lumbar intraspinal synovial cyst who underwent surgery at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics with an MIS excision via a contralateral approach were treated between July 2010 and August 2014. There was a total of 13 cases. Each patient was evaluated with preoperative neurological examinations, lumbar spine radiography, MRI, and visual analog scale (VAS) scores. The patients were evaluated postoperatively with neurological examinations and VAS and Macnab scores. The primary outcomes were improvement in VAS and Macnab scores. Secondary outcomes were average blood loss, hospital stay duration, and operative times. RESULTS There were 5 males and 8 females. The mean age was 66 years, and the mean body mass index was 28.5 kg/m2. Sixty-nine percent (9 of 13) of the cysts were at L4–5. Most patients had low-back pain and radicular pain, and one-third of them had Grade 1 spondylolisthesis. The mean (± SD) follow-up duration was 20.8 ± 16.9 months. The mean Macnab score was 3.4 ± 1.0, and the VAS score decreased from 7.8 preoperatively to 2.9 postoperatively. The mean operative time was 123 ± 30 minutes, with a mean estimated blood loss of 44 ± 29 ml. Hospital stay averaged 1.5 ± 0.7 days. There were no complications noted in this series. CONCLUSIONS The MIS excision of lumbar intraspinal synovial cysts via a contralateral approach offers excellent exposure to the cyst and spares the facet joint at the involved level, thus minimizing risk of instability, blood loss, operative time, and hospital stay. Prospective randomized trials with longer follow-up times and larger cohorts are needed to conclusively determine the superiority of the contralateral MIS approach over others, including open or ipsilateral minimally invasive surgery.

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Minimally Invasive Foraminotomy Through Tubular Retractors via a Contralateral Approach in Patients With Unilateral Radiculopathy

Operative Neurosurgery ◽

10.1227/neu.0000000000000358 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 436-447 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Marjan Alimi ◽

Innocent Njoku ◽

Guang-Ting Cong ◽

Se Young Pyo ◽

Christoph P. Hofstetter ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Back Pain ◽

Minimally Invasive ◽

Functional Outcome ◽

Analogue Scale ◽

Surgical Decompression ◽

Leg Pain ◽

Effective Technique ◽

Contralateral Approach ◽

Lumbar Spinal

Abstract BACKGROUND: Radiculopathy caused by foraminal nerve root compression is a common pathology in the lumbar spine. Surgical decompression via a conventional open foraminotomy is the treatment of choice when surgery is indicated. Minimally invasive tubular foraminotomy through a contralateral approach is a potentially effective surgical alternative. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to evaluate the efficacy and benefits of this approach for treatment of radiculopathy. METHODS: Patients with unilaterally dominant lower extremity radiculopathy, who underwent minimally invasive lumbar foraminotomy through tubular retractors via a contralateral approach between 2010 and 2012, were included. Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for back and leg pain were evaluated preoperatively, postoperatively, and at the latest follow-up. Functional outcome was evaluated by using the MacNab criteria. RESULTS: For the total 32 patients, postoperatively there was significant improvement in the ODI (P = .006), VAS back pain (P < .001), and VAS leg pain on the pathology and the approach side (P = .004, P = .021, respectively). At follow-up of 12.3 ± 1.7 months, there was also significant improvement in the ODI (P < .001), VAS back pain (P = .001), and VAS leg pain on the pathology and the approach side (P < .001, P = .001, respectively). The functional outcome was excellent and good in 95.2%. One patient required fusion (3.1%). CONCLUSION: A minimally invasive, facet-sparing contralateral approach is an effective technique for treatment of radiculopathy due to foraminal compression. It also allows for decompression of lumbar spinal stenosis and bilateral lateral recess decompression without the need for fusion.

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Considerations in Dysphagia Management Following Esophagectomy

Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups ◽

10.1044/persp1.sig13.169 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 1 (13) ◽

pp. 169-176

Author(s):

Lisa M. Evangelista ◽

James L. Coyle

Keyword(s):

Esophageal Cancer ◽

Minimally Invasive ◽

Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ◽

Esophageal Resection ◽

Minimally Invasive Surgical ◽

Operative Complications ◽

Swallowing Difficulties ◽

Epidemiological Impact ◽

Invasive Techniques ◽

Management Of Dysphagia

Esophageal cancer is the sixth leading cause of death from cancer worldwide. Esophageal resection is the mainstay treatment for cancers of the esophagus. While curative, surgical resection may result in swallowing difficulties that require intervention from speech-language pathologists (SLPs). Minimally invasive surgical procedures for esophageal resection have aimed to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with more invasive techniques. Both intra-operative and post-operative complications, regardless of the surgical approach, can result in dysphagia. This article will review the epidemiological impact of esophageal cancers, operative complications resulting in dysphagia, and clinical assessment and management of dysphagia pertinent to esophageal resection.

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