1,721,016 research outputs found

    Risk Factors and Post-Operative Predictors for Recurrent Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Long-term Follow-up Study

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    The purpose of this study is to identify some risk factors and post-operative predictors for recurrent lumbar disc hernia (rLDH) during a long-term follow-up in patients treated with microdiscectomy. Aim of the paper: This study analyzes some risk factors and postoperative predictors for recurrent lumbar disc hernia (rLDH) during a long-term follow-up in patients treated with microdiscectomy. Material and methods. We analyzed retrospectively a consecutive series of patients who underwent lumbar spinal microdiscectomy for lumbar disc herniation (LDH) from January 2013 to June 2018 at our Institute. The rate of rLDH during long-term follow-up was analyzed and correlated with baseline and post-operative data. Results. A total of 263 patients were included with a median follow-up time of 24 months (from 13 to 43 months

    Analysis of risk factors and postoperative predictors for recurrent lumbar disc herniation

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    Original Article Analysis of risk factors and postoperative predictors for recurrent lumbar disc herniation M. Dobran, Davide Nasi, R. Paracino, M. Gladi, M. Della Costanza, A. Marini, S. Lattanzi, M. Iacoangeli Department of Neurosurgery, Umberto I General Hospital, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy. E-mail: M. Dobran - [email protected]; *Davide Nasi - [email protected]; R. Paracino - [email protected]; M. Gladi - [email protected]; M. Della Costanza - [email protected]; A. Marini - [email protected]; S. Lattanzi - [email protected]; M. Iacoangeli - [email protected] ABSTRACT Background: This study identified risk factors and postoperative indicators for recurrent lumbar disc herniations (rLDH) following microdiscectomy. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the 1-year recurrence rate for LDH in 209 consecutive patients undergoing microdiscectomy (2013–2018). Results: Utilizing a multivariate analysis, higher body mass index (BMI) and postsurgery Oswestry disability index (ODI) were significantly associated with an increased risk of rLDH. Conclusions: Elevated postsurgery ODI and higher BMI were significantly associated with increased risk of rLDH. Keywords: Discectomy, lumbar disc herniation, lumbar microdiscectomy, recurrent disc herniation *Corresponding author: Davide Nasi, Department of Neurosurgery, Università Politecnica delle Marche - Ospedali Riuniti, Via Conca #71, Ancona - 60020, Italy. [email protected] Received : 13 January 19 Accepted : 18 January 19 Published : 26 March 19 DOI 10.25259/SNI-22-2019 Quick Response Code: INTRODUCTION Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is the most common reason for performing lumbar spine surgery. Today, many are managed utilizing a microdiscectomy approach. Nevertheless, these procedures correlate with a recurrence rate at 1 year that ranges from 1% to 21%.[1,3,5] Here, we looked at potential risk factors that may contribute to recurrent LDH (rLDH) following microdiscectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients who underwent standard lumbar spinal microdiscectomy for disc herniation (LDH) (2013–2018). The follow-up evaluations were performed at 1, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Recurrence of disc herniation was defined as disc herniation at the same level and side of the previous microdiscectomy after a 3-month postoperative pain-free www.surgicalneurologyint.com Surgical Neurology International Editor-in-Chief: Nancy E. Epstein, MD, NYU Winthrop Hospital, Mineola, NY, USA. SNI: Spine Editor Nancy E. Epstein, MD NYU Winthrop Hospital, Mineola, NY, USAOpen Access Dobran, et al.: Predictors for recurrent lumbar disc herniation Surgical Neurology International • 2019 • 10(36) | 2 period. Variables contributing to rLDH included age, sex, weight/body mass index (BMI), smoking status, postoperative (6 months) Oswestry disability index (ODI), and the level of the disc herniation. Radiological examination included magnetic resonance imaging before and after surgery. Statistical analysis Analyses include Student’s t-test, Mann–Whitney U-test or Chi-squared test, logistic regression, and multivariate analysis. Results were considered significant for P < 0.05 (two-sided). Data analysis was performed using STATA/IC 13.1 statistical package (StataCorp LP, Texas, USA). RESULTS There were 209 patients included in this study; 20 of 209 (9.6%) had rLDH at 1 postoperative year. Utilizing a multivariate analysis, older age, higher BMI, and postsurgery ODI were significantly associated with increased risk of rLDH [Tables 1 and 2]. DISCUSSION Microdiscectomy is a relatively straightforward procedure but is associated with a complication rate of up to 15–18%.[1-6] rLDH is the most frequent complication, occurring from 5% to 15% of the time.[6] rLDH is defined as a disc hernia at the same level of a previous microdiscectomy in patient with a pain-free interval of at least 3 months long after surgery.[1-6] In patients treated with microdiscectomy, it is important to avoid a second surgery due to the attendant increased risks/complications associated with repeated decompression versus decompression/ fusion.[5,6] In our study, BMI was an independent predictor of recurrence both at unadjusted logistic regression analysis (P = 0.004) and adjusted analysis (P = 0.024). In our series, postoperative 6-month ODI score value correlated with rLDH. Furthermore, in this study, older age was a predictor of recurrence.[1-6] CONCLUSIONS To summarize, patients with rLDH were older and had higher BMI and postsurgery ODI score after a pain-free 3-month interval. Financial support and sponsorship Nil. Conflicts of interest There are no conflicts of interest. REFERENCES 1. Ambrossi GL, McGirt MJ, Sciubba DM, Witham TF, Wolinsky JP, Gokaslan ZL, et al. Recurrent lumbar disc herniation after singlelevel lumbar discectomy: Incidence and health care cost analysis. Neurosurgery 2009;65:574-8. 2. Dobran M, Brancorsini D, Costanza MD, Liverotti V, Mancini F, Nasi D, et al. Epidural scarring after lumbar disc surgery: Equivalent scarring with/without free autologous fat grafts. Surg Neurol Int 2017;8:169. 3. Dobran M, Marini A, Gladi M, Nasi D, Colasanti R, Benigni R, et al. Deep spinal infection in instrumented spinal surgery: Diagnostic factors and therapy. G Chir 2017;38:124-9. Table 1: Characteristics of patients according to 1‐year outcome; relapse: n=20 (9.6%). Variable Full cohort (n=209) No relapse (n=189) Relapse (n=20) P Age (years) 44.6 (11.8) 43.9 (11.7) 50.4 (12.0) 0.021a Male sex 125 (59.8) 115 (60.9) 10 (50.0) 0.347b BMI (kg/m2) 27 (24–20) 27 (24–28) 29 (27.5–30.5) 0.005c Smoking 144 (68.9) 129 (68.3) 15 (75.0) 0.535b VAS 2.6 (1.5) 2.5 (1.5) 3.2 (1.7) 0.076a ODI 15 (10–20) 15 (5–20) 20 (15–22) 0.002c Disc hernia level ‐ ‐ 3 (8.6) 0.973b L3–L4 35 (16.8) 32 (91.4) 10 (9.6) ‐ L4–L5 104 (49.8) 94 (90.4) 7 (10.0) ‐ L5–S1 70 (33.5) 63 (90.0) ‐ ‐ Data are mean (SD) or median (IQR) for continuous variables and n (%) for categorical variables. aTwo‐sample t‐test. bChi‐squared test. cMann–Whitney U‐test. ODI: Oswestry disability index; VAS: Visual analog scale, BMI: Body mass index, SD: Standard deviation Table 2: Prediction of 1‐year LDH. Independent variable Unadjusted Adjusted* OR (95% CI) P OR (95% CI) P Age 1.05 (1.01–1.09) 0.023 1.04 (1.00–1.09) 0.060 Sex 0.64 (0.26–1.62) 0.350 0.50 (0.18–1.38) 0.178 BMI 1.28 (1.08–1.51) 0.004 1.23 (1.03–1.46) 0.022 Smoking 1.40 (0.48–4.02) 0.537 0.98 (0.30–3.13) 0.968 ODI 1.10 (1.03–1.17) 0.005 1.09 (1.02–1.18) 0.017 Disc hernia level 1.08 (0.55–2.12) 0.824 0.88 (0.41–1.88) 0.740 ORs for every 1 year and 1‐point BMI or ODI increases are obtained with logistic regression analysis. BMI: Body mass index; CI: Confidence interval; ODI: Oswestry disability index; OR: Odds ratio, LDH: Lumbar disc herniation Dobran, et al.: Predictors for recurrent lumbar disc herniation Surgical Neurology International • 2019 • 10(36) | 3 4. Dobran M, Marini A, Nasi D, Gladi M, Liverotti V, Costanza MD, et al. Risk factors of surgical site infections in instrumented spine surgery. Surg Neurol Int 2017;8:212. 5. Huang W, Han Z, Liu J, Yu L, Yu X. Risk factors for recurrent lumbar disc herniation: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore) 2016;95:e2378. 6. Meredith DS, Huang RC, Nguyen J, Lyman S. Obesity increases the risk of recurrent herniated nucleus pulposus after lumbar microdiscectomy. Spine J 2010;10:575-80. How to cite this article: Dobran M, Nasi D, Paracino R, Gladi M, Costanza MD, Marini A, et al. Analysis of risk factors and postoperative predictors for recurrent lumbar disc herniation. Surg Neurol Int 2019:10:36

    The efficacy of postoperative bracing after spine surgery for lumbar degenerative diseases: a systematic review

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    Purpose: Postoperative bracing treatment is widely used after surgery for lumbar degenerative diseases. However, the guidelines are lacking in this regard, and its use is mainly driven by individual surgeon preferences. The objective of the current review was to evaluate the available evidence on the use of postoperative bracing after surgery for degenerative disease of the lumbar spine. Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed while conducting a systematic search of the PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Cochrane databases from January 1990 to January 2019. High-quality studies were included that evaluated disability, pain, quality of life, the rate of fusion, complications, and rate of reoperations in patients who had surgery for lumbar degenerative disease, with and without postoperative bracing. The overall strength of evidence across the studies was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation framework. Results: Of the 391 citations screened, four randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. Based on low- to moderate-quality evidence, postoperative bracing in patients with lumbar degenerative disease does not result in improved disability, pain, and quality of life compared to no bracing patients. Low-quality evidence suggests that there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the rate of fusion, complications, and the need for reoperation. Conclusions: To date, there is not a medical evidence to support the use of bracing after surgery for lumbar degenerative disease. Graphic abstract: These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.[Figure not available: see fulltext.]

    Commentary: A new era in the management of spinal metastasis

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    Introduction In spinal tumor metastases the gold standard treatment is surgery, followed by chemo and radioterpy (1). Surgery remains the fulcrum of the therapy, especially in cases with spine instability and spinal cord involvement. In literature, the debate regarding the feasibility of the decompressive treatment and its optimal timing for surgery is still open and it is very difficult to determine the optimal surgical timing in patients with vertebral metastases starting with a neurological deficit (2). We strongly believe that surgery timing is an important prognostic factor for the clinical outcome in patients treated for spinal metastases with acute neurological deficit. As reported in our study regarding the cervical spinal cord injury (3) the surgical timing is relevant also for the spinal compression in vertebral metastases. In our previous study we considered 81 patients with traumatic cervical spinal cord injury operated before and after 12 hours. Forty seven of 81 (58%) patients exhibited improved neurological function and 72.% of them was treated &lt;12 hours after the injury. This ultra-early surgical timing in this type of patients was also associated with significantly greater neurological improveme

    Intralesional and subarachnoid bleeding of a spinal schwannoma presenting with acute cauda equina syndrome

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    We present an unusual case of spinal neurinoma with intralesional and subarachnoid bleeding with acute cauda equina syndrome. A 38-year-old man was admitted to our department after a minor thoracic spinal trauma with right lower limb plegia and urinary retention. MRI showed a T11 intradural tumour with intralesional and subarachnoid haemorrhage. The patient was operated of spinal cord decompression and complete tumour resection. The histological examination documented a schwannoma with large haemorrhagic intratumoural areas. A full neurological recovery was documented at 6-month follow-up

    A rare case of nocardial pachymeningitis and osteomyelitis of frontal bone in an immunocompetent young patient

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    A 36-year-old Caucasian man fell six meters in April 2010. At admission, the Glasgow coma scale was 14/15with stable vital signs. His past medical history was unremarkable. A head computer tomography (CT) scan documented multiple cranio-facial fractures, including the right orbital roof and the right zygomatic arch, the frontal sinus, the bilateral maxillary sinus, associated with thin right acute subdural hematoma and pneumocephalus. The patient underwent maxillofacial surgery to reduce multiple fractures, without complication. Ten days after, the patient experienced a progressive decrease of consciousness with body temperature of 39.5°C. CT scan showed a right frontal epidural and parenchymal collection with ring enhancement after contrast administration, suggestive for an infective process [Figure 1].{Figure 1} Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis revealed: cell count of 3000/mcL, protein 317 mg/dL, glucose 15 mg/dL, with cultures negative for bacteria and/or mycobacteria. Blood, urinary and bronchoalveolar lavage culture were negative. Intravenous antibiotic therapy with Meropenem (3 g/day) started immediately. The patient underwent bifrontal craniotomy, frontal sinus cranialization by pericranial flap and excision of the abscess. Intraoperatively, right frontal meningeal appeared covered by dense pus with negative culture for bacteria. Intravenous antibiotic therapies were increased with Teicoplanin (800 mg/day) for two weeks. Fever was resolved after 6 days and the 3-month follow-up CT scans confirmed the healing of the infective process. The patient was discharged on day 43, without neurological deficit. In January 2015, the patient was newly admitted to evaluate a right frontal dehiscence of the surgical scar and throbbing headache for 10 days. Physical and neurological examinations were normal. CT scan showed frontal meningeal enhancement and frontal bone flap reabsorption, suggestive for a new infection. Laboratory blood tests documented: white blood cell count of 8600/mm3 (neutrophils 55.7%, lymphocytes 36.6%, monocytes 0.45%), erythrocyte sedimentation rate of 10 mm/hr, and C-reactive protein level of 0.9 mg/dL. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) antibody was negative. Chest X-Ray was normal. The patient underwent surgery to remove the reabsorbed bone flap and a polyetheretherketone cranioplasty was positioned to repair the bone defect. Under the bone flap, yellowish and turbid pus was evident in the left frontal sinus, associated to a diffuse pachymeningitis [Figure 2]a and [Figure 2]b. Empirical intravenous antibiotics were started with Meropenem (6 g/day). Six days later, gram-positive bacilli were reported growing from the surgical specimens' culture but, only after 4 days, Nocardia asteroides was identified [Figure 2]c. The therapy was increased with Trimethoprim and Sulfameyhoxazole (TMP-SMX) (15 mg/kg TMP and 75 mg/kg SMX per day) and Meropenem (6 g/day) for three weeks, according with the Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) testing. The patient was discharged home and continued with oral TMP-SMX therapy for further 6 months. Six and twelve-month follow-up CT scan confirmed meningeal infection resolution [Figure 3].{Figure 2}{Figure 3} Nocardia species are filamentous, Gram-positive, partially acid-fast, branched bacteria ubiquitous in the environment, particularly in the soil and water.[1]Nocardia is considered an opportunistic microorganism because it occurs in immuno compromised patients, particularly those with cell-mediated immunity defects. There are more than 50 species of Nocardia, but Nocardia asteroides group is responsible for the majority of human nocardial infections.[1],[2],[3] Infection mainly occurs by direct inhalation or skin inoculation. The most common clinical manifestations are pulmonary, cutaneous and soft tissue (8.1%) and systemic nocardiosis (13.5%), including central nervous system (CNS) dissemination (5.4%).[2] Regarding CSN, nocardiosis may present with cerebral abscesses and meningitis, nevertheless meningitis is extremely rare. CNS infection may be secondary to hematogenous dissemination from a primary site, usually the lungs, or may exist on its own.[2] Osteomyelitis is an unusual manifestation.[1],[2],[3] Most cases are associated with infections of the vertebral bodies,[4],[5],[6] femur and tibia but other, less frequent locations include skull, ilium, fibula and metatarsal bones. A pub med search revealed two cases in literature,[1],[2],[3] but only one of them was similar: a 34-year-old man presented skull vault osteomyelitis and pachymeningitis, successfully treated with prolonged antibiotic therapy.[3] As in our case, bone infection and pachymeningitis had probably spread from overlying soft tissue infection, where there was a surgical scar. Diagnosis of Nocardia is extremely difficult because these species are slow-growing organism and are easily contaminated. An optimal treatment for cerebral nocardiosis has not been established. Clinical experience has shown that successful therapy requires appropriate surgical drainage in combination with antimicrobial drugs for a prolonged period. Synergy against Nocardia has been demonstrated between TMP-SMX, which is the first line therapy, due to good tolerance for the patient and better cerebrospinal fluid penetration.[3] Our patient received a combination regimen of TMP-SMX plus Meropenem, which was switched to oral TMP-SMX, for 6 months with a successful outcome. An interesting point in our case was the completely asymptomatic course of infection, despite cerebral nocardiosis has a high mortality and morbidity. Our case highlights how the diagnosis of nocardiosis remains extremely difficult in an immunocompetent patient. Prolonged and specifi
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