The Hardware Failure and Correction Loss of Short-segment Pedicle Screw Fixation Combined With Transforaminal Interbody Fusion in Treatment of Unstable Thoracolumbar Burst Fracture: Retrospective Study in Vietnam

Background: Correction loss and hardware failure of short segment posterior pedicle screw fixation in treatment of thoracolumbar unstable burst fracture have been remaining a main concern. Several authors have introduced the procedures to solve these limitations including transforaminal interbody fusion (TIF). The purposes of this study were to evaluate the progressive kyphosis and implant failure of short-segment pedicle screw fixation combined with transforaminal interbody fusion in treatment of unstable thoracolumbar burst fracture.Methods: The retrospective study were enrolled in the patients with isolated unstable thoracolumbar burst fractures, Denis type IIB who were treated by posterior short fixation with TIF between January 2013 to January 2017. Patients were followed up for a minimum of one and half year. For evaluation of correction loss, % loss of anterior vertebral body heights (%AVB), vertebral kyphotic angle (VA) and regional kyphotic angle (RA) were collected preoperatively, postoperatively and at final follow-up. The hardware failure was assessed on radiological images at last follow-up. Results: There were 36 patients who met the inclusion criteria with a mean follow-up duration of 53 months. The mean correction loss of %AVB, VA and, RA were 10.2%, 2.9o and 5.6o, respectively. There were 6 patients (16.7%) with hardware failure at final follow-up. Conclusions: Short-segment posterior pedicle screw fixation with TIF using bone chip graft hasn’t prevented completely the hardware failure and progressive kyphosis in treatment of unstable thoracolumbar burst fracture.

Intradural lumbar disc herniation: illustrative case

BACKGROUND Accounting for less than 0.4% of disc herniations, intradural lumbar disc herniations (ILDHs) are a rare occurrence primarily described as a complication after lumbar spine surgery. It is speculated that the herniation may propagate intradurally from either an unrecognized dural defect after initial surgery or as a result of adhesions between the dura and posterior longitudinal ligament. This report explores the etiology, presentation, diagnostic evaluation, and treatment of ILDH along with a case report and microsurgery video. OBSERVATIONS A 67-year-old patient who 1 year earlier had undergone an L2–5 laminectomy and L2–3 decompression with no known complications presented with low back pain and radiating right leg, buttock, and groin pain for 1 month. Physical examination indicated no numbness or weakness. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a large ILDH. A transforaminal interbody fusion was performed followed by a durotomy, ILDH removal, and dural closure. A ventral dural defect was found and repaired during the procedure. LESSONS The treatment for ILDH is laminectomy with dorsal durotomy. Because ILDH has rarely been described in literature, understanding its presentation is crucial for prompt identification and management.

Resultados a 10 años de la artrodesis lumbar circunferencial medidos por la escala de Oswestry.

Circumferential arthrodesis is postulated as the surgical treatment of choice in some de-generative and disc diseases of the lumbar spine, both in primary surgery and especially in revision surgery. Objective: To measure pain and functionality using the ODI scale, in patients with low back and / or radicular pain who have had a comprehensive transforaminal surgical ap-proach together with anterior and posterior arthrodesis (TLIF). Material and methods: In our series, we performed TLIF(transforaminal interbody fusión lumbar) on 38 patients during 2-000-2.003 years and evaluated the long-term results, ten years, using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Results: They show improvement in ODI by comparing the baseline figures, prior to the intervention, with the 10-year follow-up (34.21 +/- 9.31 to 11.82 +/- 7.62 points, p = 0.000) . This improvement is also observed in each of the ODI sections in a significant way: pain intensity, personal care, ability to get up, walk, sit, stand, sleep, sex life, social life and travel (p = 0.000, in all of them).Conclusion: In our case series, in patients with low back and / or radicular pain, the use of the TLIF technique may have contributed to a significant improvement in the test score by improving pain, sleep, functionality and social aspects, maintained at least up to 10 years of follow-up.