Survival after surgery for spinal metastatic disease: a nationwide multiregistry cohort study

ObjectivesTo evaluate survival after surgery and indications for surgery due to spinal metastatic disease.DesignA retrospective longitudinal multiregistry nationwide cohort study.Setting19 public hospitals in Sweden with spine surgery service, where 6 university hospitals account for over 90% of the cases.Participants1820 patients 18 years or older undergoing surgery due to spinal metastatic disease 2006–2018 and registered in Swespine, the Swedish national spine surgery registry.InterventionsDecompressive and/or stabilising spine surgery due to spinal metastatic disease.Primary outcomeSurvival (median and mean) after surgery.Secondary outcomesIndications for surgery, types of surgery and causes of death.ResultsThe median estimated survival after surgery was 6.2 months (95% CI: 5.6 to 6.8) and the mean estimated survival time was 12.2 months (95% CI: 11.4 to 13.1). Neurologic deficit was the most common indication for surgery and posterior stabilisation was performed in 70.5% of the cases. A neoplasm was stated as the main cause of death for 97% of the patients.ConclusionBoth median and mean survival times were well above the generally accepted thresholds for surgical treatment for spinal metastases, suggesting that patient selection for surgical treatment on a national level is adequate. Further research on quality of life after surgery and prognostication is needed.

413 Posterior Stabilisation Without Formal Debridement for The Treatment of Non-Tuberculous Pyogenic Spinal Infection in A Frail and Debilitated Population – A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background Non-tuberculous pyogenic spinal infection (PSI) incorporates a variety of different clinical conditions. Surgical interventions may be necessary for severe cases where there is evidence of spinal instability or neurological compromise. The primary surgical procedure focuses on the anterior approach with aggressive debridement of the infected tissue regions. We aim to evaluate the effectiveness of the posterior approach without debridement. Method Several databases including MEDLINE, NHS evidence and the Cochrane database were searched. The main clinical outcomes evaluated include pain, neurological recovery (Frankel Grading System, FGS) post-operative complications and functional outcomes (Kirkaldy-Willis Criteria and Spine Tango Combined Outcome Measure Index, COMI). Results From the four papers included in the meta-analysis, post-operative pain levels were found to be lower at a statistically significant level when a random effects model was applied, with the effect size found to be at 0.872 (p < 0.001, 95% CI: 0.7137 to 1.0308). Post-surgical neurological improvement was also demonstrated with a mean FGS improvement of 1.12 in 64 patients over the included articles. Conclusions Posterior approach with posterior stabilisation without formal debridement can results in successful infection resolution, improved pain scores and neurological outcomes. However, Larger series with longer follow-up duration are strongly recommended.

Sudden painless loss of vision following spine surgery: lessons learnt in darkness

A 26-year-old male driver presented with a history of pain in the neck for the past 1 week following trauma due to a road traffic accident. The patient had no neurological deficit. He had type 1 diabetes and was on regular oral hypoglycemics. After radiological investigations, the patient was diagnosed to have traumatic AO Spine Classification type C translational injury involving anterolisthesis of C6 over C7. After a detailed preoperative assessment, the patient was taken up for surgery. The patient underwent posterior stabilisation with instrumentation from C5 to T2. On extubation from anaesthesia, he immediately complained of complete painless loss of this vision in his left eye. Ophthalmological investigations attributed the cause to be due to central retinal artery occlusion. The patient was discharged with reassurance on the 20th postoperative day with minimal improvement in his vision and at 6-month follow-up, his vision improved to 1/60 and was advised for close follow-up.

Rare case of juvenile ossifying fibroma of the lumbar spine causing vertebra plana

Juvenile ossifying fibroma (JOF) is a rare benign fibro-osseous tumour occurring in craniofacial bones of children and young adults. An 8-year-old girl presented with low back pain since 10 months. Plain radiographs revealed a vertebra plana-like lesion of L3 vertebra. CT scan showed an osteolytic lesion with areas of ground-glass appearance interspersed with bone flecks involving the entire body, pedicles and laminae of L3 with well-circumscribed cortical margins. Biopsy was done—histopathological findings showed cellular fibrous stroma with bony trabeculae—which, on corroboration with clinical and radiological findings noted previously, confirmed the diagnosis of JOF. The patient underwent preoperative angioembolisation, curettage and posterior stabilisation. At follow-up of 15 months, the patient was asymptomatic—imaging revealed residual tumour in pedicles—which however did not progress radiologically. The case raises the importance of including this rare condition as a differential diagnosis in children and reports successful outcome with subtotal resection.

Outcome of fractures of dorso lumbar spine treated by short segment posterior stabilization with intermediate pedicle screws

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Spine fractures are common in today’s world due to high frequency of motor vehicle accidents and work place injuries. These are major cause of disability in adult population. The mortality rate following spinal injuries is 7%. The aim of the study was to study the functional and radiological outcome of fractures of dorso lumbar spine treated by short segment posterior stabilization with intermediate pedicle screws.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> Dorso-lumbar fractures with intact pedicle on the fractured segment, Load sharing classification score of equal or less than 6, Neurologic involvement caused by the fracture, loss of vertebral body height by more than 50% and kyphosis angle more than 20° are included. Patients with multiple level fractures and pathological fractures were excluded from the study. Denis classification and AO classification were used. Load sharing score is used to decision making for intermediate screw fixation.<strong></strong></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> L1 is more frequently fractured followed by D12. Distraction type (AO) and burst (Denis) are most common types. 4 of our patients had complete neurological deficit. 15 had incomplete deficit and 11 patients doesn’t have any neurological involvement. Frankel A grade cases remained in the same grade. Mean Kyphotic correction is 6.7°. Mean AVBCP in the postoperative cases 26. None of the cases developed kyphosis or loss of correction in the follow up. Outcome using Roland Morris disability questionnaire is excellent in 64.3%, good in 21.6% and poor in 14.3% cases.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> To conclude that short segment posterior stabilisation with intermediate screws provides better biomechanical stability when compared with conventional short segment fixation.</p>

Circumferential Fusion through All-Posterior Approach in Andersson Lesion

<sec><title>Study Design</title><p>Retrospective case series.</p></sec><sec><title>Purpose</title><p>To assess safety and efficacy of single stage, posterior stabilisation and anterior cage reconstruction through the transforaminal or lateral extra-cavitary route for Andersson lesions.</p></sec><sec><title>Overview of Literature</title><p>Pseudoarthrosis in ankylosing spondylitis (Andersson lesion, AL) can cause progressive kyphosis and neurological deficit. Management involves early recognition and surgical stabilisation in patients with instability. However, the need and safety of anterior reconstruction of the vertebral body defect remains unclear.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>Twenty consecutive patients with AL whom presented with instability back pain and or neurological deficit were managed by single stage posterior approach with long segment pedicle screw fixation and anterior vertebral reconstruction. Radiological evaluation included- the regional kyphotic angle, measurement of anterior defect in computed tomography (CT) scan and the spinal cord status in magnetic resonance imaging. Radiological outcomes were assessed for fusion and kyphosis correction. Functional outcomes were assessed with visual analogue scale (VAS), ankylosing spondylitis quality of life (ASQoL) and Oswestry disability index (ODI).</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>The mean age of the patients was 50.1 years (male, 18; female, 2). The levels affected include thoracolumbar (n=12), lower thoracic (n=5) and lumbar (n=3) regions. The mean level of fixation was 6.2±2.4 vertebrae. The mean anterior column defect was 1.6±0.6 cm. The mean surgical duration, blood loss and hospital stay were 112 minutes, 452 mL and 6.2 days, respectively. The mean followup was 2.1 years. At final follow up, VAS for back pain improved from 8.2 to 2.4 while ODI improved from 62.7 to 18.5 (<italic>p</italic> &lt;0.05) and ASQoL improved from 14.3±2.08 to 7.90±1.48 (<italic>p</italic> &lt;0.05). All patients had achieved radiological union at a mean 7.2±4.6 months. The mean regional kyphotic angle was 27° preoperatively, 16.7° postoperatively and 18.1° at the final follow-up.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusions</title><p>Posterior stabilisation and anterior reconstruction with cage through an all-posterior approach is safe and can achieve good results in Andersson lesions.</p></sec>