Vascularized Bone Grafts for Spinal Fusion—Part 3: The Occiput

BACKGROUND Obtaining successful arthrodesis at the craniocervical junction and atlantoaxial joint can be more challenging than in other segments of the cervical spine. This challenge stems from the relatively hypermobile joints between the occipital condyles, the motion that occurs at C1 and C2, as well as the paucity of dorsal bony surfaces for posterior arthrodesis. While multiple different techniques for spinal fixation in this region have been well described, there has been little investigation into auxiliary methods to improve fusion rates. OBJECTIVE To describe the use of an occipital bone graft to augment bony arthrodesis in the supraaxial cervical spine using a multidisciplinary approach. METHODS We review the technique for harvesting and placing a vascularized occipital bone graft in 2 patients undergoing revision surgery at the craniocervical junction. RESULTS The differentiation from nonvascularized bone graft, either allograft or autograft, to a bone graft using vascularized tissue is a key principle of this technique. It has been well established that vascularized bone heals and fuses in the spine better than structural autogenous grafts. However, the morbidity and added operative time of harvesting a vascularized flap, such as from the fibula or rib, precludes its utility in most degenerative spine surgeries. CONCLUSION By adapting the standard neurosurgical procedure for a suboccipital craniectomy and utilizing the tenets of flap-based reconstructive surgery to maintain the periosteal and muscular blood supply, we describe the feasibility of using a vascularized and pedicled occipital bone graft to augment instrumented upper cervical spinal fusion. The use of this vascularized bone graft may increase fusion rates in complex spine surgeries.

PREVALENCE OF PJK AFTER ARTHRODESIS IN PATIENTS WITH NEUROMUSCULAR SCOLIOSIS IN THE SECOND POSTOPERATIVE YEAR

ABSTRACT Objective The primary objective of this study was to analyze the prevalence of PJK in patients with neuromuscular scoliosis submitted to posterior spinal arthrodesis with instrumentation. Proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) is a frequent phenomenon that, due to its importance, began to be studied by several authors, who laid the foundations for the radiographic definition and possible risk factors for its occurrence after long spinal arthrodesis with instrumentation. Despite the large number of PJK studies, most were related to the occurrence of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, adult deformity and early-onset scoliosis, with few being targeted to patients with congenital and neuromuscular scoliosis. Methods In this study, data from electronic medical records of patients with neuromuscular scoliosis who underwent posterior arthrodesis with instrumentation between the years 2014 and 2016 were analyzed. Information on age, gender, pathology and radiographic measurements were extracted from this sample at the 2nd and 24th postoperative months. Results A total of 39 patients with neuromuscular scoliosis were analyzed. The sample was predominantly male (58.87%) and the mean age was 14.05 years. PJK occurred in 18 patients during the two years following surgery, with a prevalence of 46.15%. The incidence of PJK in the 2nd and 24th postoperative months was 23.1% and 30%, respectively. Conclusions A prevalence of PJK of 46.15% was found in patients with neuromuscular scoliosis treated surgically with posterior instrumentation after two years of follow-up, as compared to previous results . Level of Evidence III; Cross-sectional observational study.

EPIDEMIOLOGY AND MORTALITY OF THORACOLUMBOSACRAL SPINAL ARTHRODESIS IN BRAZIL: THE LAST 10 YEARS

ABSTRACT Objective To describe the epidemiology and mortality of thoracolumbosacral arthrodesis surgery in Brazil in the last 10 years. Methods Study conducted using data from the SIH of the Unified Health System (SUS) covering the time period from 2008 to 2018 for all regions of Brazil. The data obtained were analyzed using the BioStat 5.3 program, using Chi-square statistical tests, observing a p-value <0.05 and a 95% confidence interval. Results A total of 66,631 anterior or posterior approach TLS surgeries were registered. The overall mortality rate was 9.37 deaths per thousand procedures. There are regions with mortality much higher than the national average. The mortality rate increases proportionally with the number of levels involved in posterior arthrodesis. Conclusions The study of the epidemiological profile of thoracolumbosacral arthrodesis is important, especially in a country whose population is heterogeneous but has different mortality rates among regions. Therefore, it is necessary to create measures that identify and prevent the factors that lead to the death of patients undergoing such a procedure. Level of evidence II; Retrospective, analytical, quantitative and descriptive study.

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.

Intraoperative Doppler ultrasound as a means of preventing vertebral artery injury during Goel and Harms C1–C2 posterior arthrodesis: technical note

Vertebral artery injury (VAI) is a potential catastrophic complication of Goel and Harms C1–C2 posterior arthrodesis. Meticulous study of preoperative spinal CT angiography together with neuronavigation plays a fundamental role in avoiding VAI. Doppler ultrasonography may be an additional intraoperative tool, providing real-time identification of the vertebral artery (VA) and thus helping its preservation.Thirty-three consecutive patients with unstable odontoid fractures underwent Goel and Harms C1–C2 posterior arthrodesis. Surgery was performed with the aid of lateral fluoroscopic control in 16 cases (control group) that was supplemented by Doppler ultrasonography in 17 cases (Doppler group). Two patients in each group had a C1 ponticulus posticus. In the Doppler group, Doppler probing was performed during lateral subperiosteal muscle dissection, stepwise drilling, and tapping. Blood flow velocity in the V3 segment of the VA was recorded before and after posterior arthrodesis. All patients had a 12-month outpatient follow-up, and outcome was assessed using the Smiley-Webster Pain Scale. Neither VAI nor postoperative neurological impairments were observed in the Doppler group. In the control group, VAIs occurred in the 2 patients with C1 ponticulus posticus. In the Doppler group, 1 patient needed intra- and postoperative blood transfusions, and no difference in terms of Doppler signal or VA blood flow velocity was detected before and after C1–C2 posterior arthrodesis. In the control group, 3 patients needed intra- and postoperative blood transfusions.Useful in supporting fluoroscopy-assisted procedures, intraoperative Doppler may play a significant role even during surgeries in which neuronavigation is used, reducing the chance of a mismatch between the view on the neuronavigation screen and the actual course of the VA in the operative field and supplying the additional data of blood flow velocity.

Motion-preserving, 2-stage transoral and posterior treatment of an unstable Jefferson fracture in a professional football player

The authors report the case of a patient who suffered a Jefferson fracture during a professional football game. The C-1 (atlas) fracture was widely displaced anteriorly, but the transverse ligament was intact. In an effort to enable a return to play and avoid intersegmental (C1–2) fusion, the patient underwent a transoral approach for open reduction and internal fixation of the fracture. The associated posterior ring fracture displacement widened after this procedure, and a subsequent posterior arthrodesis and fixation of the fracture site was performed 6 months later when the fracture failed to heal with rigid collar immobilization. The approach maintained the normal range of motion at the atlantoaxial and atlantooccipital joints, which would have been sacrificed by an atlantoaxial or occipitocervical fusion, as is traditionally performed. Ultimately, the patient decided not to return to the football field, but this approach could avoid the more significant loss of motion associated with atlantoaxial or occipitocervical fusion for unstable Jefferson fractures.