Repositório RCAAP

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe the epidemiology of patients with thoracolumbar spine fracture submitted to surgery at Hospital Cristo Redentor and the related costs. Methods: Prospective epidemiological study between July 2014 and August 2015 of patients with thoracolumbar spine fracture with indication of surgery. The variables analyzed were sex, age, cost of hospitalization, fractured levels, levels of arthrodesis, surgical site infection, UTI or BCP, spinal cord injury, etiology, length of stay, procedure time, and visual analog scale (VAS) . Results: Thirty-two patients were evaluated in the study period, with a mean age of 38.68 years. Male-female ratio was 4:1 and the most frequent causes were fall from height (46.87%) and traffic accidents (46.87%). The thoracolumbar transition was the most affected (40.62%), with L1 vertebra involved in 23.8% of the time. Neurological deficit was present in 40.62% of patients. Hospital stay had a median of 14 days and patients with neurological deficit were hospitalized for a longer period (p<0.001), with an increase in hospital costs (p= 0.015). The average cost of hospitalization was U$2,874.80. The presence of BCP increased the cost of hospitalization, and patients with spinal cord injury had more BCP (p= 0.014) . Conclusion: Public policies with an emphasis on reducing traffic accidents and falls can help reduce the incidence of these injuries and studies focusing on hospital costs and rehabilitation need to be conducted in Brazil to determinate the burden of spinal trauma and spinal cord injury.

ABSTRACT Objective: To test the reliability of the new AO/2013 classification compared with AO/Magerl and TLICS. Methods: Four spine surgeons retrospectively and blindly evaluated imaging and clinical data from 98 patients with thoracolumbar fractures. Results: Using the Kappa coefficient, we obtained the best reproducibility for the AO/2013 classification compared to the other two, represented by Kappa coefficient of 0.690. We could also obtain, with good reproducibility among the evaluators (Kappa 0.690), the most common subtypes of AO/2013 classification with indication for surgery. Conclusion: We believe that the new AO/2013 classification has proven to be a good communication tool among spine surgeons with good reproducibility, but more studies should be conducted in several centers in order to be consolidated and so that the prognosis between the types of injury is better understood.

ABSTRACT Objectives: The objectives of this presentation are to analyze the kinematics that causes this association, describe the impact of the injury, and evaluate the treatment performed Methods: Three cases are analyzed by quantifying the displacement and angulation of the sternum, the characteristics of the spinal injury and deformity, treatment, and complications Results: The mechanism that causes the injury is flexion-distraction, the component of the vertebral body presented is type A, and the most affected region was T5. Two patients had neurological picture E. Sternum injury was caused by direct trauma Conclusion: The association of these was observed in patients who have suffered from high-energy trauma in a car accident. There was no relationship between the angulation of the sternum and its displacement to the degree of kyphosis and displacement of the thoracic spine. It is important to carry out good radiographic studies that include the sternum when there is suspicion of this relationship.

ABSTRACT Objective: The objective of this study is to present demographic data on the occurrence of spinal metastases in the service where the work was performed and to investigate the reliability of the modified Tokuhashi score in the decision making in patients with metastatic spinal cancer. Methods: We conducted a review of medical records of all cases of vertebral bone metastasis, confirmed by anatomopathological examination, from January 2009 to June 2012. Data review included demographic details, origin of the primary cancer, duration of symptoms, localization of metastases, Karnofsky performance scale and survival based on modified Tokuhashi score. We divided patients into three groups. Group A included patients with life expectancy of less than six months, group B included patients with life expectancy of between six and 12 months, and group C included patients with a life expectancy of more than 12 months. We compared the calculated survival with the current survival in the three groups with all patients followed-up to a minimum of 1 year or until death. Results: The predict survival in group A was 63.6% according to the modified Tokuhashi score, albeit group B had only 30% agreement. Conclusions: For patients in group A, the agreement rate of patient survival was better (63.4%) than that observed in patients in group B (30%). Our sample had no patient classified as group C.

ABSTRACT The objective of the paper is to analyze the frequency and efficacy of experimental studies with antioxidant therapy. A search was conducted in the pubmed.gov database using the keywords "antioxidants" AND "spinal cord injury", from January 2000 to December 2015, resulting in 686 articles. Studies of non-traumatic injuries, non-antioxidant therapies, absence of neurological and functional evaluation, and non-experimental studies were excluded, leaving a total of 43 articles. The most used therapies were melatonin (16.2%), quercetin (9.3%), epigallocatechin and edaravone (6.9%). The most frequent route of administration was intraperitoneal (72.09%). The dose and mode of administration varied greatly, with a single dose being the most commonly used (39.53%). The time elapsed from trauma to treatment was 0-15 minutes (41.8%), 15-60 minutes (30%) and over 60 minutes (10.6%). Histological analysis was performed in 32 studies (74.41%). The BBB scale was the main functional measure applied (55.8%), followed by the inclined plane test (16.2%) and the Tarlov scale (13.9%). Positive outcomes were observed in 37 studies (86.04%). The heterogeneity of antioxidant therapy, with different types, doses, and measurements observed, limits the comparison of efficacy. Standardized protocols are required to make clinical translation possible.

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine that minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar fusion has fewer complications of chronic lumbar instability compared with traditional open techniques. Methods: Retrospective, observational study of 132 patients with grade I and II lumbar spondylolisthesis with advanced disc degeneration. Forty-five patients operated by minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MITLIF), 45 patients operated by posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) and 42 patients operated by open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF). Results: Four patients had incidental durotomy, two in the TLIF group and two in the PLIF group. There were no cases of incidental durotomy in the minimally invasive transforaminal access group. No patient in the study presented an inadequate screw position, the lowest mean bleeding occurred in the group of minimally invasive instrumentation of one and two levels. There were 6.6% of infections for PLIF group and none in the other two groups. Conclusions: Arthrodesis techniques are not free of complications, however, the frequency is lower with minimally invasive techniques. Nonetheless, it requires training and does not dispense the need for a learning curve for the spine surgeon compared to open lumbar fusion techniques.

ABSTRACT Objective: To identify the incidence and type of postoperative hospital complications in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) treated by anterior approach, and to describe comorbidities present in patients who had complications. Methods: Retrospective, observational, descriptive cohort study of secondary sources (medical records), over a period of 3 years. We included 180 cases treated by anterior approach, excluding revision surgeries. Results: There was an incidence of complications of 11.11% (20 cases), with no statistically significant difference between sexes. The main complication was pneumonia (50%), associated to prolonged intubation (40%), followed by neurological impairment (20%). In the hospital outcome he was found most often to another hospital discharge (65%, 13 cases). The main comorbidity was systemic arterial hypertension (31.58%, p = 0.46), followed by smoking (26.32%, p 0.10). Conclusions: The highest hospital incidence of postoperative complications was found in patients with CSM treated by anterior approach in relation to that reported in the literature. There was a high incidence of airway complications not correlated with soft tissue edema or hematoma in more than half of the cases. The incidence of airway complications shows an area of opportunity to improve extubation protocols and management of the airways in post-surgical special care unit. Level of Evidence III. SIRELCIS Registry: R-2014-3401-5. Study conducted without commercial support.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Cervical myelopathy is a degenerative pathology of spinal and/or root involvement. Caused by hypertrophy of the yellow ligament, osteophytes in the medullary canal and disc herniation. It affects the upper and lower motor neurons. The treatment of myelopathy diagnosed by magnetic resonance and electromyography consists of decompression by corpectomy. Methods: Autologous graft integration with cervical plate placement was evaluated in 31 patients, from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2015. The procedure consisted of a Smith Robinson approach, anterior corpectomy, iliac crest autograft, anterior stabilization with cervical plate (Vectra, Synthes). Statistical analysis was performed with EPIINFO 3.5.1. Results: Age 64.6% (45-65 years), Sex: 41.9% (women), 58.1% (men). Segments treated: 38.7% (C5-C6), 35.5% (C4-C5), graft separation in sections <0.5 cm, sagittal, and <0.5 cm, axial at 12 months. Bleeding 61.3% (100-500 ml), 32.3% (501-100 ml), 6.5% (1,001-1,500 ml). Time 32.3% (> 249 min), 32.3% (121-180 min), 32.3% (181-240 min), 3.2% (91-120 min). Discussion: In this series, Querétaro is similar to other cities in the world with respect to sex, age, levels affected, number of complications, surgical time and bleeding, as well as graft integration in the evaluation at 12 months. Conclusions: Increased frequency in adult men, C4-C6 affected levels; Complications: recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, bleeding greater than 500 ml.

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the functional outcome of surgical treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Methods: A retrospective study involving 34 patients with CSM, operated from January 2014 to June 2015. The neurological status was assessed using the Nurick and modified Japanese Orthopedic Association (mJOA) scales preoperatively and at 12 months. Sex, age, time of evolution, affected cervical levels, surgical approach and T2-weighted magnetic resonance hyperintense signal were also evaluated. Results: A total of 14 men and 20 women participated. The mean age was 58.12 years. The average progression time was 12.38 months. The preoperative neurological state by mJOA was mild in 2 patients, moderate in 16 and severe in 16, with a mean of 11.44 points. The preoperative Nurick was grade II in 14 patients, grade III in 8, grade IV in 10 and grade V in 2. The T2-weighted hyperintense signal was documented in 18 patients (52.9%). The functional outcome according to the mJOA recovery rate was good in 15 patients (44.1%) and poor in 19 (55.9%). The degree of Nurick recovery was good in 20 (58.8%) and poor in 14 (41.2%). Conclusions: Decompressive surgery of the spinal cord has been shown to be effective in the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy in well-selected patients. Although it is suggested that there are certain factors that correlate with functional outcome, we believe that more prospective randomized studies should be conducted to clarify this hypothesis.

ABSTRACT Objective: This study aims to evaluate the outcome of surgical treatment of congenital torticollis in our hospital. Methods: We collected the medical records of all patients diagnosed with congenital torticollis in the last 3 years at Shriners Hospital, Mexico City. The cases of congenital torticollis treated with surgery were selected and we evaluated the type of surgical technique, bleeding, time of surgery and complications, as well as the associated diagnoses of hip dysplasia. Results: We found 11 patients, of whom 7 met the inclusion criteria. Three women and four men with mean age of 10.7 years, five of whom had right, and two left side affections. All were surgically treated, five with unipolar and two with bipolar release. The surgery time was similar in both techniques and no complications were found in any of the groups. In two cases there were associated diagnoses, Klippel-Feil syndrome and congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV) in one and psychomotor retardation in another. No association was found with hip dysplasia. All patients had improved range of movement and head tilt. There were no complications related to the surgical procedure or need for reintervention in our patients. Conclusions: Surgical treatment of congenital torticollis by uni- or bipolar release is an effective and safe method for these patients, presenting aesthetic and functional benefits.

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the morphology of the vertebral foramen and its distance to the midline. Methods: Twenty cervical CT scans from the radiographic record of 12 men and 8 women, 18 to 74 years old, of C1 to C6 segments were evaluated, measuring the foramen diameter and its distance to the midline. We look for anomalies of vertebral foramen morphology, using Philips Ingenuity CT equipment with Philips IntelliSpace Portal software. Results: The mean age was 47 years; the segment with the most anomalies was C1, with 10% (increase in foramen diameter), followed by C2 and C6, with 5% (vertebral foramen hypotrophy); the mean diameter of the C1 to C6 segment was 6.081 mm, and the median distance from the midline to the vertebral foramen of C2 to C6 was 13.215 mm. The largest diameter of the vertebral foramen was C2, with a mean of 6.67 mm and the smallest was C4, with a mean of 5.75 mm; the greatest distance from the midline to the vertebral foramen was C1, with a mean of 22.59 mm and the shortest was C4, with a mean of 12.13 mm. Conclusions: The mean diameter of the vertebral foramen and its distance to the midline was determined, setting a safety region for procedures. In our city, there is no study that determines the means of the vertebral foramina diameters, the distance from the midline and its anomalies. It is necessary to rely on CT scans and to make a preoperative plan to avoid complications associated with morphological alterations.

ABSTRACT Surgical treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration aims to restore the height of the disc space and the release of involved neurological structures. Like any surgical treatment in orthopedics, the success or failure of the lumbar procedure involves the possibility of performing an adequate planning of each particular event. In the case of lumbar stabilization surgery with interbody fusion, it is essential to know the ideal height of the disc space for the fusion to be successful. Objective: To demonstrate that the ideal height of the disc space corresponds approximately to one third of the height of the vertebral body. Methods: X-ray images were taken in AP and lateral views of hospital residents to measure L4-L5 vertebral bodies as well as the disc space. The rule of three was used to check the height of the disc and vertebral bodies. Results: It was verified that the disc space corresponds to 31% of the size of the vertebral body, taking 0.31 as the constant. Conclusions: The size of the disc corresponds to one third of the vertebral body, taking 0.31 as the constant. The multiplication of the constant by the height of the vertebral body results in the exact height of the disc. Thus, in the presence of degeneration of the intervertebral disc, it is possible to know the size of the disc and, therefore, the size of the interbody cage.

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the possibility of using cadavers of pigs for training in endoscopic interlaminar discectomy. Methods: Five young pigs were used. The necessary instruments and equipment were used, and the endoscopic transforaminal and interlaminar percutaneous approach was performed at the L7-S1 level. A specialist surgeon performed the procedure. The points of entry, needle angulation, and subjective technical difficulties indicated by the surgeon were analyzed. Results: The mean weight of pigs was 42.2 kg. The posterolateral (transforaminal) entry point was, on average, 6.28 cm from the midline at an angulation of 32.8°. The posterior (interlaminar) entry point was on average 1.82 cm. Full-endoscopic interlaminar discectomy was possible in all animals of the sample. The structures described in the literature were visible endoscopically in 100% of the models. Conclusions: The demonstrated benefits and increased indications of endoscopic lumbar surgery created the need to establish safer and more efficient training processes. The authors raise the possibility of using experimental models to develop technical skills in endoscopy via interlaminar approach. The use of teaching tools such as animal models constitutes a new learning technique and give more confidence to surgeons. The use of cadavers of pigs, obtained according to ethics, avoids the use of human cadavers, and minimizes the development of the learning curve on patients.

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the epidemiology of spine trauma in patients with polytrauma. Methods: The database of the service of polyfractured patients was reviewed from January to December 2015, 334 patients in total. Among them, 56 had spinal injury, of which 38 patients were included in the study. Results: Of the patients with polytraumatism, 16.77% had spinal cord injury. Mechanism of injury: fall 63.16%, traffic accidents 21.05%, running over 10.53%. Injury conditions: occupational 36.84%, at home 23.68%, traffic accident 15.79%, public road 13.16%, motorcycle accident 5.26%, of which 13.16% had consumed alcoholic beverages. Total with neurological injury 23.68%, incomplete lesion 18.42%. Injured vertebral segment: lumbar 76.32%, thoracic 31.58%, and cervical 7.89%. Associated injuries: upper limbs 47.37%, lower limbs 42.11%, pelvis 36.84%, thorax 34.21%, craniofacial 31.58%, abdomen 21.05%. Treatment: instrumentation 71.05%, orthoses 26.32%. Infection rate of 22.22%. Conclusions: The most common mechanism of injury was falls in the working environment, almost one fourth presented neurological damage, the most affected segment was the lumbar associated with injury of the lower limbs in 50%, with one fourth of patients that undergone intervention presenting infection. It is in the workplace, at home and in the transit where preventive measures must be reinforced to reduce the incidence of injuries in working age patients.

ABSTRACT Objective: To identify the category of evidence and the strength of recommendation for the conservative treatment of thoracolumbar spine burst fractures. Method: A systematic review was conducted from April 2014 to June 2015, selecting articles according to their prospective design, related to thoracolumbar spine burst fractures and their treatment. These studies were published in the electronic bibliographic databases from January 2009 to January 2015. Results: A total of 9,504 articles were found in a free search, of which 7 met the selection criteria and were included for analysis in a study of a total of 435 patients, of whom 72 underwent surgical treatment and 363 received some type of conservative treatment, showing predominantly level of evidence "1b", with strength of recommendation type "A". Conclusions: According to the evidence obtained, the conservative treatment is a choice for patients with stable burst fracture in a single level of thoracolumbar spine and with no neurological injury.

ABSTRACT Objective: The thoracolumbar spine trauma represents 30% of spinal diseases. To compare the minimally invasive technique with the open technique in lumbar fractures. Method: A prospective, cross-sectional, comparative observational study, which evaluated the following variables: surgery time, length of hospital stay, transoperative bleeding, postoperative pain, analyzed by SPSS software using Student's t test with statistical significance of p ≥ 0.05, with 24 patients with single-level thoracolumbar fractures, randomly treated with percutaneous pedicle screws and by open technique with a transpedicular system. Results: The surgery time was 90 minutes for the minimally invasive technique and 60 minutes for the open technique, the bleeding was on average 50 cm3 vs. 400 cm3. The mean visual analogue scale for pain at 24 hours of surgery was 5 for the minimally invasive group vs. 8 for the open group. The number of fluoroscopic projections of pedicle screws was 220 in the minimally invasive technique vs. 100 in the traditional technique. Quantified bleeding was minimal for percutaneous access vs. 340 cm3 for the traditional system. The hospital discharge for the minimally invasive group was at 24 hours and at 72 hours for those treated with open surgery. Conclusions: It is a technique that requires longer surgical time, with reports of less bleeding, less postoperative pain and less time for hospital discharge, reasons why it is supposed to be a procedure that requires a learning curve, statistical significance with respect to bleeding, visual analogue scale for pain and showed no significant difference in the variables of surgical time.

ABSTRACT Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze the pressure pain threshold (PPT) of the sternocleidomastoid (SCM), suboccipital (SO) and upper trapezius (UT) muscles and the craniocervical posture in individuals with episodic tension-type headache (ETTH). Methods: This study was a cross-sectional, non-randomized study with 60 young adults (77% female) comprising both sexes and an age range of 18-27 years. Individuals were distributed into a control group (G1) and individuals with ETTH (G2). The frequency of headaches per month was recorded. A pressure dynamometer was used to evaluate the PPT. Photogrammetry was used to evaluate the cervical lordosis (CL) and cephalic protrusion (CP). The data were statistically analyzed. Results: There were differences in the PPT, where the UT, SO and SCM muscles presented lower sensitivity to pain, respectively. The SCM muscle presented a lower PPT in G2. The CL and CP angles were significantly lower in G2. Conclusion: Individuals with ETTH exhibited a significantly lower PPT in the SCM and SO muscles than in the UT muscle. Nevertheless, individuals with ETTH presented with the SCM muscle being more sensitive to pain as well as higher CL and CP than individuals without symptomatology.

ABSTRACT Objective: To compare radiation exposure to the surgeon, patient and radiation technician during percutaneous access of the vertebral pedicle, using three different fluoroscopic imaging set up. Methods: Percutaneous access in pedicle T9-L5 of nine adult male cadavers using three different fluoroscopic set ups: standard C-arm, C-arm with L-arm, and the biplanar technique. The radiation dose exposure of the surgeon, radiation technician, and cadaver were measured using dosimeter in each procedure and in real time. Results: The radiation dose absorbed by the surgeon was higher when using the standard C-arm fluoroscopic technique than when using the C-arm with L-arm or the biplanar technique. Conclusions: The use of the C-arm with L-arm, or the biplanar fluoroscopic technique, for percutaneous access to the vertebral pedicle, reduces the radiation exposure of the surgeon compared to the standard C-arm fluoroscopic technique.

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the amount of loss of function after spinal cord transection of varying extents, and whether magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, in combination with an external magnetic field, improve the rate of subsequent functional recovery in rats. Methods: The animals were divided into groups with 50%, 80% and complete spinal cord transection. The animals of all three study groups were administered magnetic iron oxide nanoparticle suspension to the area of injury. The three control groups were not administered magnetic nanoparticles, but had corresponding transection levels. All animals were exposed to a magnetic field for 4 weeks. Loss of postoperative function and subsequent recovery were assessed using the BBB motor function scale and somatosensory evoked potential monitoring on the first day after surgery, and then weekly. Terminal histological analysis was also conducted in all the groups. Results: The animals in the control or complete transection groups did not demonstrate statistically significant improvement in either the BBB scores or evoked potential amplitude over the four-week period. In the group with 50% transection, however, a statistically significant increase in evoked potential amplitude and BBB scores was observed four weeks after surgery, with the highest increase during the second week of the study. In the group with 80% transection, only improvement in evoked potential amplitude was statistically significant, although less pronounced than in the 50% transection group. Conclusion: The use of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles in combination with a magnetic field leads to higher rates of functional recovery after spinal cord injury in laboratory animals. The mechanism of this functional improvement needs further investigation.

ABSTRACT Objective: Lumbar disc herniation is a common indication for surgical treatment of the spine. Open microdiscectomy is the gold standard. New surgical techniques have emerged, such as spinal endoscopy. We compared and evaluated two endoscopic techniques: the transforaminal and the interlaminar. Methods: Fifty-five patients underwent endoscopic technique and were assessed by VAS and ODI in the preoperative period, and in the first and sixth month after the procedure. Results: We had 89.1% of good results and 10.9% of complications. Conclusion: We conclude that endoscopic techniques are safe and effective for the surgical treatment of lumbar disc herniation.