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Purpose: Posterior surgery with intraoperative radiotherapy for spinal metastases offers effective therapy, as we have reported previously. However, the procedure involves transfer from the operating room to the radiotherapy room, and as these patients are somewhat immunocompromised, the risk of postoperative surgical site infection (SSI) may be increased. The aim of our study was to identify risk factors and patient characteristics associated with postoperative SSI following posterior fixation surgery and intraoperative radiotherapy for spinal metastases.Methods: Participants comprised 279 patients who underwent IORT for the treatment of spinal metastases between August 2004 and June 2013. Patients who suffered SSI within 1 month after surgery were categorized as infected, and all others were categorized as non-infected. We compared factors of age, sex, use of pre-operative corticosteroid, medical history of diabetes, prognosis scores (Tomita, Tokuhashi, and Katagiri), pre- and postoperative Frankel scale scores, site of tumor origin, administration of pre-operative radiotherapy, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative irradiation dose, and pre- and postoperative performance status between groups.Results: SSI occurred in 41 patients (14.7%). Katagiri's and Tokuhashi's prognostic scores (P < 0.05 each), postoperative Frankel scale score (P < 0.01), administration of pre-operative radiotherapy (P < 0.05), and postoperative performance status (P < 0.05) all correlated significantly with occurrence of SSI. Multivariate analysis using those factors revealed administration of pre-operative radiotherapy as a factor independently associated with SSI (P < 0.05).Conclusions: Patient prognosis, postoperative ambulatory function, and pre-operative radiotherapy were risk factors for SSI in patients with spinal metastases. Duration of surgery and intraoperative blood loss were not associated with occurrence of SSI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Factors impacting surgical options and outcomes in patients with cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) were explored. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of 127 eligible cervical OPLL patients (61 males, 66 females) aged 41-70 years (mean 55.2 years) selected from 152 total OPLL patients treated from 2002 to 2006, with 5-10-year (mean 6.8 years) follow-up. Patients underwent anterior subtotal corpectomy with ossification ligament resection (anterior surgery, n = 68) or posterior cervical double-door laminoplasty (posterior surgery, n = 59). Radiographic assessments of cervical curvature, T2-weighted MRI (MRIT2) signal, and OPLL occupying ratio were correlated with surgical strategy before surgery and at 1, 5 weeks, and 5 years. Results: Lordosis increased following anterior surgery, though kyphosis improved by 10.3 %. The canal stenosis occupying ratio was >50 %, and short-term improvement following anterior surgery was significantly higher than posterior surgery ( P > 0.0001). Superior neurological function was observed in patients with unchanged versus high spinal MRIT2 signals ( P = 0.0434). No significant differences were observed in short-term outcomes between anterior and posterior surgeries in high spinal MRIT2 signal patients, but anterior surgery produced significantly better long-term outcomes at 1 week ( P = 0.7564) and 1 year ( P = 0.0071). Complications occurred in five anterior and three posterior surgeries. Conclusion: Preoperative assessment of cervical curvature, MRIT2 signal, and occupying ratio can be used to guide clinical surgical approach selection to potentially produce better long-term outcomes in patients with OPLL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There have been several reports on hemivertebra resection via a posterior-only procedure. However, the number of reported cases is small, and various types of instrumentation have been used. In our study, we retrospectively investigated 56 consecutive cases of congenital scoliosis that were treated by posterior hemivertebra resection with transpedicular instrumentation. Radiographs were reviewed to determine the type and location of the hemivertebra, the coronal curve magnitude and the sagittal alignment pre-operatively, post-operatively and at the latest follow-up. Radiographs were also used to assess implant failure and inter-body fusion. Surgical reports and patient charts were reviewed to record any peri-operative complications. Fifty-eight posterior hemivertebrae resections from 56 patients aged 1.5-17 years with fully segmented non-incarcerated hemivertebra were evaluated. The average age at surgery was 9.9 years (1.5-17 years). The average follow-up was 32.9 months (24-58 months). The mean fusion level was 5.0 segments (2-11 segments). There was a mean improvement of 72.9% in the segmental scoliosis, from 42.4° before surgery to 12.3° at the time of the latest follow-up, and there was a mean improvement of 70% in segmental kyphosis from 42.0° to 14.5° over the same time period. The thoracic kyphosis (T5-T12) averaged 10.8° before surgery and 23.9° at the latest follow-up. The lumbar lordosis (L1-S1) averaged −52.8° before surgery and −51.6° at the latest follow-up. Two cases with neurological claudications had complete recovery immediately after the surgery. There was one case of delayed wound healing, two fractures of the pedicle at the instrumented level, two rod breakages and one proximal junction kyphosis that required revision. There were no neurological complications. Radiolucent gaps were found in the residual space after resection on the lateral view in five cases, without any sign of implant failure or correction loss. Our results show that one-stage posterior hemivertebra resection with transpedicular instrumentation can achieve excellent correction, 360° decompression and short fusion without neurological complications. Pedicle cutting still remains a challenge in younger children when using bisegmental instrumentation. In addition, the radiolucent gaps in the residual space require further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NiTinol shape memory alloy is characterized by its malleability at low temperatures and its ability to return to a preconfigured shape above its activation temperature. This process can be utilized to assist in scoliosis correction. The goal of this retrospective study was to evaluate the clinical and radiographic results of intraoperative use of shape memory alloy rod in the correction of scoliosis. From May 2002 to September 2006, 38 scoliosis patients (ranging from 50° to 120°; 22 cases over 70°) who underwent shape memory alloy-assisted correction in our institute were reviewed. During the operation, a shape memory alloy rod served as a temporary correction tool. Following correction, the rod was replaced by a rigid rod. The mean blood loss at surgery was 680 ± 584 ml; the mean operative time was 278 ± 62 min. The major Cobb angle improved from an average 78.4° preoperatively to 24.3° postoperatively (total percent correction 71.4%). In 16 patients with a major curve <70° and flexibility of 52.7%, the deformity improved from 58.4° preoperatively to 12.3° postoperatively (percent correction, 78.9%). In 22 patients with a major curve >70° and flexibility of 25.6%, the deformity improved from 94.1° preoperatively to 30.1° postoperatively (percent correction, 68.1%). Only one case had a deep infection. There were no neurologic, vascular or correction-related complications such as screw pullout or metal fracture. The study shows that the intraoperative use of a shape memory rod is a safe and effective method to correct scoliosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the increasing number of reports on surgical treatments for thoracolumbar osteoporotic vertebral collapse with neurological deficits, the choice of surgery remains controversial. In this retrospective study, we compared the outcomes of posterior and anterior surgeries for single-level osteoporotic vertebral collapse with neurological deficit in the thoracolumbar spine. Both posterior and anterior surgical approaches were performed with a consistent procedure for a single surgical indication at one institution. Twenty-four patients treated with posterior surgery and 28 patients treated with anterior surgery were followed-up over an average of 5 years after surgery. Radiographic results (kyphotic angle, bony fusion, and instrumentation failure), neurological improvement, and surgical complications were compared between the two groups. The average correction angle after surgery was larger in the posterior group than in the anterior group ( P = 0.013), but not at final follow-up ( P = 0.755). The average loss of correction was also higher in the posterior group than in the anterior group ( P = 0.037). There was no significant difference in neurological outcomes between anterior and posterior approaches ( P = 0.080). Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that the neurological outcome was better in wedge type than in flat type vertebral collapse, regardless of the type of surgical approach ( P = 0.0093). In wedge type vertebral collapse, neurological improvement tended to be greater after anterior than after posterior surgery. In four of six cases with instrumentation failure in the anterior group, a titanium cage subsided more than 5 mm but bony fusion was eventually achieved without causing neurological problems. In the posterior group, six cases experienced instrumentation failure during the postoperative course (two cases with screws loosened from pedicles and bodies, and one case with breakage of a screw neck). None of the patients developed instrumentation-related neurological problems. Two cases in each group developed pseudoarthrosis. In single-level osteoporotic vertebral collapse with neurological deficit, anterior surgery tended to improve neurological deficit in wedge type, but not in flat type collapse, compared with posterior surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]