Short-segment compression instrumentation for selected thoracic and lumbar spine fractures: the short-rod/two-claw technique

1993 ◽  
Vol 79 (3) ◽  
pp. 335-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward C. Benzel

✓ The short-rod/two-claw (SRTC) technique of spine instrumentation was recently introduced for the treatment of thoracic and lumbar spine fractures. The use of this technique in 10 patients harboring wedge compression or burst fractures of the thoracic or lumbar spine is described. Of three patients treated with the construct placed in a distraction mode, the average follow-up loss of angle (the difference between the immediate postoperative and follow-up midsagittal angle as measured on x-ray films) was 18.3°. Of the seven patients in whom the instrumentation was placed in a compression mode, the average observed loss of angle at follow-up examination was 1.6°. Two patients had a preoperative scoliotic deformity at the fracture site. and both deformities were exaggerated by the placement of the SRTC technique in compression. Although no patient experienced an adverse outcome and all achieved a solid fusion, the application of the SRTC technique of universal spine instrumentation in distraction was associated with an exaggerated loss of angle. Loss of angle and deformity exaggeration are not desirable and are preventable by strict patient selection and by applying the construct in a compression mode. It is emphasized that few patients are candidates for this form of instrumentation. When applicable. however, the advantages of decreased pain and stiffness and the elimination of the need for instrumentation removal make the SRTC and related short-segment techniques desirable alternatives to traditional methods of spinal fixation.

1993 ◽  
Vol 79 (4) ◽  
pp. 608-611 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward C. Benzel ◽  
Perry A. Ball ◽  
Nevan G. Baldwin ◽  
Erich P. Marchand

✓ A new technique of universal spine instrumentation insertion for the management of thoracic and lumbar spine instability is presented and the results in 10 patients are described. The technique involves the sequential insertion of Texas Scottish Rite Hospital (TSRH) central-post hooks, followed by hook fixation to the rod; force is then applied with correction of deformity, if needed. This allows for methodical, safe, and rapid instrumentation insertion. The new TSRH central-post hook configuration permits manipulation of the hook/rod relationships to the advantage of the surgeon (and patient) by providing more room for both hook insertion and hook/rod fixation. This technique has reduced operative time, facilitated case of deformity correction, and provided uniformly acceptable early postsurgical results.


2005 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. 596-600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raphaël Vialle ◽  
Antoine Feydy ◽  
Ludovic Rillardon ◽  
Carla Tohme-Noun ◽  
Philippe Anract ◽  
...  

✓ Chondroblastoma is a benign cartilaginous neoplasm that generally affects the appendicular skeleton. Twenty-six cases of spinal chondroblastoma have been reported in the past 50 years, only six of which were located in the lumbar region. The authors report two cases involving this exceptional location. In both patients, low-back pain, in the absence of radicular pain, was the presenting symptom. In both cases, plain radiography and computerized tomography scanning revealed an osteolytic lesion surrounded by marginal sclerosis. Magnetic resonance imaging allowed the authors to study the tumor's local extension. Examination of a percutaneous fluoroscopy-guided biopsy sample revealed the following typical histological features of chondroblastoma: chondroid tissue, focally alternating with cellular areas, and no nuclear atypia or pleomorphism. To reduce the risk of local recurrence, vertebrectomy and anterior—posterior fusion were performed in both cases. In one case, a structural lumbar scoliosis was corrected during the posterior procedure. There was no postoperative complication. No recurrence was observed during the 3- to 6-year follow-up period. The surgery-related results were deemed successful. Although exceptional, the diagnosis of chondroblastoma is possible in lesions involving the lumbar spine. Other spinal locations are described in the literature, and frequency of recurrence is stressed. A vertebrectomy is advised to reduce the risk of local recurrence.


1995 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward C. Benzel ◽  
Nevan G. Baldwin

✓ An ideal spinal construct should immobilize only the unstable spinal segments, and thus only the segments fused. Pedicle fixation techniques have provided operative stabilization with the instrumentation of a minimal number of spinal segments; however, some failures have been observed with pedicle instrumentation. These failures are primarily related to excessive preload forces and limitations caused by the size and orientation of the pedicles. To circumvent these problems, a new technique, the crossed-screw fixation method, was developed and is described in this report. This technique facilitates short-segment spinal fixation and uses a lateral extracavitary approach, which provides generous exposure for spinal decompression and interbody fusion. The technique employs two large transverse vertebral body screws (6.5 to 8.5 mm in diameter) to bear axial loads, and two unilateral pedicle screws (placed on the side of the exposure) to restrict flexion and extension deformation around the transverse screws and to provide three-dimensional deformity correction. The horizontal vertebral body and the pedicle screws are connected to rods and then to each other via rigid crosslinking. The transverse vertebral body screws are unloaded during insertion by placing the construct in a compression mode after the interbody bone graft is placed, thus optimizing the advantage gained by the significant “toe-in” configuration provided and further decreasing the chance for instrumentation failure. The initial results of this technique are reported in a series of 10 consecutively treated patients, in whom correction of the deformity was facilitated. Follow-up examination (average 10.1 months after surgery) demonstrated negligible angulation. Chronic pain was minimal. The crossed-screw fixation technique is biomechanically sound and offers a rapid and safe form of short-segment three-dimensional deformity correction and solid fixation when utilized in conjunction with the lateral extracavitary approach to the unstable thoracic and lumbar spine. This approach also facilitates the secure placement of an interbody bone graft.


1991 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 382-387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward C. Benzel ◽  
Lee Kesterson ◽  
Erich P. Marchand

✓ The authors present their experience with 28 patients who had incurred unstable thoracic or lumbar spine fractures and who were intraoperatively stabilized with the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital (TSRH) universal instrumentation system. These patients were treated over a 1-year period and reflect an evolving insight into the treatment of thoracic and lumbar spine trauma with universal instrumentation. The TSRH instrumentation system appears equivalent to the more established Cotrel-Dubousset system in most respects. The construct design of the TSRH system facilitates the safe application of a rigid spinal implant. No cases of instability or pseudoarthrosis were observed during an average follow-up period of 9 months, (minimum 3 months). As the surgical treatment plan evolved, shorter and more compact constructs were increasingly utilized. There were no cases of instrumentation failure, regardless of the number of spinal levels fused or the number of levels instrumented. The value of using short rods when possible is emphasized: they may decrease the incidence of delayed instability and discomfort related to loosening at the hook/bone interface compared to that observed when long-rod systems are used in association with short spine fusions causing a fusion/instrumentation mismatch.


2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 301-305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ozcan Kocanli ◽  
Baran Komur ◽  
Tahir Mutlu Duymuş ◽  
Bulent Guclu ◽  
Barış Yılmaz ◽  
...  

2000 ◽  
Vol 93 (1) ◽  
pp. 161-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manfred Mühlbauer ◽  
Wolfgang Pfisterer ◽  
Richard Eyb ◽  
Engelbert Knosp

✓ The anterior decompressive procedure in which spinal fusion is performed is considered an effective treatment for thoracolumbar fractures and tumors. However, it is also known to be associated with considerable surgery-related trauma. The purpose of this study was to show that lumbar corpectomy and anterior reconstruction can be performed via a minimally invasive retroperitoneal approach (MIRA) and therefore the surgical approach—related trauma can be reduced. The authors studied retrospectively the hospital records and radiological studies obtained in five patients (mean age 67.4 years, range 59–76 years) who underwent lumbar corpectomy and spinal fusion via an MIRA followed by posterior fixation. Four patients presented with osteoporotic compression fractures at L-2 and L-3, and one patient presented with metastatic disease in L-4 from prostate cancer. Neurological deficits due to cauda equina compression were demonstrated in all patients. The MIRA provided excellent exposure to facilitate complete decompression and anterior reconstruction in all patients, as verified on follow-up radiographic studies. All patients improved clinically. A 1-year follow-up record is available for four patients and a 6-month follow-up record for the fifth patient; continuing clinical improvement has been observed in all. Radiography demonstrated anatomically correct reconstruction in all patients, as well as a solid fusion or a stable compound union in the four patients for whom 1-year follow-up records were available. The MIRA allows the surgeon to perform anterior lumbar spine surgery via a less invasive approach. The efficacy and safety of this technique and its potential to reduce perioperative morbidity compared with conventional retroperitoneal lumbar spine surgery should be further investigated in a larger series.


2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 211-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Misbah Mehraj ◽  
Farid H. Malik

Background. We did a prospective study to study the efficiency of Short Segment Posterior Instrumentation using a Universal Spine System with incorporation of the fractured vertebra in post-traumatic thoracic and lumbar spine fractures. Material and methods. 25 cases in the age group of I5-50 years with thoracic and lumbar spine fractures were included in the study. The operative decision was made on the basis of instability of spine fractures with or without neurological deficit. Patients were followed up for an average period of twelve months, reporting for assessment at 3-monthly intervals. The final result was analyzed on the basis of neurological recovery as per Frankel’s Grading, spine stability as per kyphotic angle by Cobb’s method, vertebral body height and complications. Results. Post-operatively at the final follow-up visit, 36% patients had Frankel’s grade E neurological status. The mean sagittal plane kyphosis pre-operatively was 31.16°, which reduced to 21.52° post-operatively, which represents 30.93% reduction. Mean anterior body compression was 38.6°, which decreased to 23.4° post-operatively, corresponding to 15% increase. Conclusions. 1. Although conventional short segment posterior fixation (SSPF) has become an increasingly popular method of treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures, providing the advantage of incorporating fewer motion segments in the fixation, a review of literature demonstrated that SSPF led to 9-55% incidence of implant failure and long term loss of kyphosis correction. 2. Short segment posterior fixation with pedicle fixation at the level of the fractured vertebra (short same-segment fixation) provides more biomechanical stability than traditional SSPF.


1996 ◽  
Vol 84 (3) ◽  
pp. 462-467 ◽  
Author(s):  
Parviz Kambin ◽  
Kenneth Casey ◽  
Evan O'Brien ◽  
Linqui Zhou

✓ The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of arthroscopic decompression of lateral recess stenosis, determine potential associated complications, and present an alternative method to access the lateral recess of the lumbar spine. Forty patients were selected in whom the authors found clinical and computerized tomography evidence of lateral recess stenosis and sequestered foraminal herniations. All 40 were treated with a posterolateral arthroscopic technique, and 38 were available for this follow-up evaluation. A satisfactory result was obtained in 31 patients (82%). No neurovascular complications were encountered; however, other complications included an infection of the disc space in one patient and a causalgic-type pain in the involved extremity in four patients. The associated postoperative morbidity in this group of patients was minimal and resulted in rapid rehabilitation and return of patients to preoperative functioning level.


2005 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 0-0
Author(s):  
Igoris Šatkauskas ◽  
Valentinas Uvarovas ◽  
Manvilius Kocius

Igoris Šatkauskas1, Valentinas Uvarovas2, Manvilius Kocius21 Vilniaus greitosios pagalbos universitetinės ligoninės2-asis ortopedijos ir traumatologijos skyrius,Šiltnamių g. 29, LT-04130 Vilnius2 Vilniaus universiteto Bendrosios, plastinės chirurgijos,ortopedijos ir traumatologijos klinika,Šiltnamių str. 29, LT-04130 VilniusEl paštas: [email protected]; [email protected] Tikslas Įvertinti stuburo krūtininės ir juosmeninės dalių nestabilių lūžių operacinio gydymo rezultatus. Nustatyti komplikacijų ir rentgenologinių deformacijos kriterijų įtaką ligonių skundams. Ligoniai ir metodai Ištirti 48 ligoniai, operuoti nuo nestabilių stuburo krūtininės ir juosmeninės dalių lūžių be neurologinių komplikacijų. Stuburo slankstelių ir judesio segmento kifozė, Cobbo kampas ir kūno kompresija nustatyta rentgenologiškai prieš operaciją, po operacijos ir vėlesnio ištyrimo metu. Ligonių skausminiai skundai ir negalia įvertinti Šiaurės Amerikos stuburo draugijos (NASS) ir Roland-Morriso klausimynais. Atlikta ligonių asmeninio gydymo rezultatų vertinimo ir nedarbingumo analizė. Įvertintas ryšys tarp stuburo trauminės deformacijos rentgenologinių kriterijų ir klausimynų duomenų. Rezultatai Vidutiniškai po 16,8 mėnesio nuo traumos ištirto 48 ligonio amžiaus vidurkis buvo 38,4 metų (nuo 19 iki 71 metų). Operacijos metu koreguota kifozinė deformacija statistiškai reikšmingai progresavo, tačiau išliko daug mažesnė už pradinę. Iš 38 pacientų, kuriems buvo atlikta tik traspedikulinė fiksacija ir užpakalinė spondilodezė, 10 (26,3%) įvyko metalo konstrukcijų nuovargio lūžiai, o grupėje, kurioje, be transpedikulinės fikacijos, atlikta papildoma priekinė spondilodezė, šių komplikacijų nebuvo. Su metalo konstrukcijomis susijusių komplikacijų grupėje segmento kifozė ir Cobbo kampas progresavo labiau nei grupėje be komplikacijų, bet tai neturėjo jokios įtakos klausimynų rezultatams. NASS skausmo / negalios skalės taškų vidurkis buvo 76,8 ± 20,0, o Roland-Morriso klausimyno – 5,9 ± 6,4. Koreliacijos tarp rentgeninių deformacijos kriterijų ir klausimynų duomenų nerasta. Išvados Nestabiliems sprogstamiesiems lūžiams gydyti trumpos transpedikulinės fiksacijos ir užpakalinės spondilodezės nepakanka. Jei slankstelio kūno kompresija didelio laipsnio, indikuojama papildoma priekinės stuburo kolonos rekonstrukcija ir spondilodezė. Reikšminiai žodžiai: stuburas, lūžiai, operacinis gydymas, komplikacijos Outcome of surgical treatment of thoracic and lumbar spine fractures Igoris Šatkauskas1, Valentinas Uvarovas2, Manvilius Kocius21 Vilnius University Emergency Hospital,2nd Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology,Šiltnamių str. 29, LT-04130 Vilnius, Lithuania2 Vilnius University Clinic of General, Plastic Surgery,Orthopaedics and Traumatology,Šiltnamių str. 29, LT-04130 Vilnius, LithuaniaE-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] Objective To evaluate functional and radiological outcomes of thoracic and lumbar spine fractures stabilized surgically and to identify any radiographic findings that may adversely influence posterior fixation failure and final functional outcome. Patients and methods A retrospective review of 48 neurologically intact patients who had undergone surgical stabilization and fusion of unstable thoracic and lumbar spine fractures was performed. Vertebral and regional kyphosis angles, anterior ant posterior vertebral body compression were measured on injury, postoperative and final follow-up radiographs. Functional, pain status and disability were evaluated using the North American Spine Society (NASS) lumbar spine and Roland-Morris Disability (RMDQ) questionnaires. Relationships were sought between radiographic findings, complications and self-reported outcome measurement scores. Results The mean follow-up time for the 48 patients (mean age 38.4, range 19 to 71 years) was 16.8 months. Despite a significant loss of correction, the degree of residual deformity was significantly less than at the time of injury. Of 38 patients treated with posterior short-segment pedicle-screw instrumentation ant posterior fusion, 10 (26.3%) had a fixation failure. In the fixation failure group, the loss of correction of regional kyphosis was significantly greater than in the non-failure group, but it had no influence on the final functional outcome. The mean NASS pain/disability subscale and RMDQ scores were 76.8 ± 20.0 and 5.9 ± 6.4, respectively. No correlation was found between the radiographic findings and questionnaire scores. Conclusions The short-segment pedicle fixation and posterior fusion of unstable burst spine fractures is not sufficient and related with a high rate of the hardware failure. In the presence of a substantial anterior column compromise, a combined procedure of posterior fixation and anterior reconstruction should be considered. Keywords: thoracolumbar spine, fracture, surgical treatment, outcome


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