Barrett S. Boody

Vertebral Osteomyelitis and Spinal Epidural Abscess: An Evidence-based Review.

Spinal infections have historically been associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Current treatment protocols have improved patient outcomes through prompt and accurate infection identification, medical treatment, and surgical interventions. Medical and surgical management, however, remains controversial because of a paucity of high-level evidence to guide decision making. Despite this, an awareness of presenting symptoms, pertinent risk factors, and common imaging findings are critical for treating spine infections. The purpose of this article is to review the recent literature and present the latest evidence-based recommendations for the most commonly encountered primary spinal infections: vertebral osteomyelitis and epidural abscess.

Surgical Site Infections in Spinal Surgery.

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a potentially devastating complication of spine surgery. SSIs are defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as occurring within 30 days of surgery or within 12 months of placement of foreign bodies, such as spinal instrumentation. SSIs are commonly categorized by the depth of surgical tissue involvement (ie, superficial, deep incisional, or organ and surrounding space). Postoperative infections result in increased costs and postoperative morbidity. Because continued research has improved the evaluation and management of spinal infections, spine surgeons must be aware of these modalities. The controversies in evaluation and management of SSIs in spine surgery will be reviewed.

Evaluation and Treatment of Lumbar Facet Cysts.

Lumbar facet cysts are a rare but increasingly common cause of symptomatic nerve root compression and can lead to radiculopathy, neurogenic claudication, and cauda equina syndrome. The cysts arise from the zygapophyseal joints of the lumbar spine and commonly demonstrate synovial herniation with mucinous degeneration of the facet joint capsule. Lumbar facet cysts are most common at the L4-L5 level and often are associated with spondylosis and degenerative spondylolisthesis. Advanced imaging studies have increased diagnosis of the cysts; however, optimal treatment of the cysts remains controversial. First-line treatment is nonsurgical management consisting of oral NSAIDs, physical therapy, bracing, epidural steroid injections, and/or cyst aspiration. Given the high rate of recurrence and the relatively low satisfaction with nonsurgical management, surgical options, including hemilaminectomy or laminotomy to excise the cyst and decompress the neural elements, are typically performed. Recent studies suggest that segmental fusion of the involved levels may decrease the risks of cyst recurrence and radiculopathy.

Validation of Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) computerized adaptive tests in cervical spine surgery

OBJECTIVE The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS), which is funded by the National Institutes of Health, is a set of adaptive, responsive assessment tools that measures patient-reported health status. PROMIS measures have not been validated for surgical patients with cervical spine disorders. The objective of this project is to evaluate the validity (e.g., convergent validity, known-groups validity, responsiveness to change) of PROMIS computer adaptive tests (CATs) for pain behavior, pain interference, and physical function in patients undergoing cervical spine surgery. METHODS The legacy outcome measures Neck Disability Index (NDI) and SF-12 were used as comparisons with PROMIS measures. PROMIS CATs, NDI-10, and SF-12 measures were administered prospectively to 59 consecutive tertiary hospital patients who were treated surgically for degenerative cervical spine disorders. A subscore of NDI-5 was calculated from NDI-10 by eliminating the lifting, headaches, pain intensity, reading, and driving sections and multiplying the final score by 4. Assessments were administered preoperatively (baseline) and postoperatively at 6 weeks and 3 months. Patients presenting for revision surgery, tumor, infection, or trauma were excluded. Participants completed the measures in Assessment Center, an online data collection tool accessed by using a secure login and password on a tablet computer. Subgroup analysis was also performed based on a primary diagnosis of either cervical radiculopathy or cervical myelopathy. RESULTS Convergent validity for PROMIS CATs was supported with multiple statistically significant correlations with the existing legacy measures, NDI and SF-12, at baseline. Furthermore, PROMIS CATs demonstrated known-group validity and identified clinically significant improvements in all measures after surgical intervention. In the cervical radiculopathy and myelopathic cohorts, the PROMIS measures demonstrated similar responsiveness to the SF-12 and NDI scores in the patients who self-identified as having postoperative clinical improvement. PROMIS CATs required a mean total of 3.2 minutes for PROMIS pain behavior (mean ± SD 0.9 ± 0.5 minutes), pain interference (1.2 ± 1.9 minutes), and physical function (1.1 ± 1.4 minutes) and compared favorably with 3.4 minutes for NDI and 4.1 minutes for SF-12. CONCLUSIONS This study verifies that PROMIS CATs demonstrate convergent and known-groups validity and comparable responsiveness to change as existing legacy measures. The PROMIS measures required less time for completion than legacy measures. The validity and efficiency of the PROMIS measures in surgical patients with cervical spine disorders suggest an improvement over legacy measures and an opportunity for incorporation into clinical practice.

Iatrogenic Flatback and Flatback Syndrome

Flatback syndrome can be a significant source of disability, affecting stance and gait, and resulting in significant pain. Although the historical instrumentation options for thoracolumbar fusion procedures have been commonly regarded as the etiology of iatrogenic flatback, inappropriate selection, or application of modern instrumentation can similarly produce flatback deformities. Patients initially compensate with increased lordosis at adjacent lumbar segments and reduction of thoracic kyphosis. As paraspinal musculature fatigues and discs degenerate, maintaining sagittal balance requires increasing pelvic retroversion and hip extension. Ultimately, disc degeneration at adjacent levels overcomes compensatory mechanisms, resulting in sagittal imbalance and worsening symptoms. Nonoperative management for sagittally imbalanced (sagittal vertical axis>5 cm) flatback syndrome is frequently unsuccessful. Despite significant complication rates, surgical management to recreate lumbar lordosis using interbody fusions and/or osteotomies can significantly improve quality of life.

Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in the cervical spine: a review

Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) is a rare pathologic process of lamellar bone deposition that can result in spinal cord compression. While multiple genetic and environmental factors have been related to the development of OPLL, the pathophysiology remains poorly understood. Asymptomatic patients may be managed conservatively and patients with radiculopathy or myelopathy should be considered for surgical decompression. Multiple studies have demonstrated the morphology and size of the OPLL as well as the cervical alignment have significant implications for the appropriate surgical approach and technique. In this review, we aim to address all the available literature on the etiology, history, presentation, and management of OPLL in an effort to better understand OPLL and give our recommendations for the treatment of patients presenting with OPLL.

The Effectiveness of Bioskills Training for Simulated Lumbar Pedicle Screw Placement

Study Design: Prospective randomized study. Objectives: To define the impact of an inexpensive, user-friendly, and reproducible lumbar pedicle screw instrumentation bioskills training module and evaluation protocol. Methods: Participants were randomized to control (n = 9) or intervention (n = 10) groups controlling for level of experience (medical students, junior resident, or senior resident). The intervention group underwent a 20-minute bioskills training module while the control group spent the same time with self-directed study. Pre- and posttest performance was self-reported (Physician Performance Diagnostic Inventory Scale [PPDIS]). Objective outcome scores were obtained from a blinded fellowship-trained attending orthopedic spine surgeon using Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills (OSATS) and Objective Pedicle Instrumentation Score metrics. In addition, identification of pedicle breach and breach anatomic location was measured pre- and posttest in lumbar spine models. Results: The intervention group showed a 30.8% improvement in PPDIS scores, compared with 13.4% for the control group (P = .01). The intervention group demonstrated statistically significant 66% decrease in breaches (P = .001) compared with 28% decrease in the control group (P = .06). Breach identification demonstrated no change in accuracy of the control group (incorrect identification from 32.2% pre- to posttest 35%; P = .71), whereas the intervention group’s improvement was statistically significant (42% pre- to posttest 36.5%; P = .0047). Conclusions: We conclude that a concise lumbar pedicle screw instrumentation bioskills training session can be a useful educational tool to augment clinical education.

Evaluation and Management of Pyogenic and Tubercular Spine Infections

Purpose of ReviewTo review the most current diagnostic tools and treatment options for pyogenic and tubercular spine infection.Recent FindingsRecent studies have focused on risk factors for failed nonoperative management in order to improve patient selection. Also, spine instrumentation and different grafting options have been safely utilized in the setting of an active infection without increasing the incidence of reoccurrence. However, the optimal surgical technique has yet to be established and instead should be patient specific.SummarySpine infections include a broad spectrum of disorders including discitis, vertebral osteomyelitis, and spinal epidural abscess. It is paramount to recognized spine infections early due to the potential catastrophic consequences of paralysis and sepsis. The management of spine infections continues to evolve as newer diagnostic tools and surgical techniques become available. Magnetic resonance imaging with contrast is the imaging study of choice and computed tomography-guided biopsies are crucial for guiding antibiotic selection. Antibiotics are the mainstay of treatment and surgery is indicated in patients with neurological deficits, sepsis, spinal instability, and those who have failed nonoperative treatment.

Return to Play for Athletes

Sports-related activities are associated with a variety of spinal injuries. Spine surgeons must be able to determine an athletes readiness to return to play. Most spine surgeons agree that an athlete should be neurologically intact, be pain free, be at full strength, and have full range of motion before returning to full, unrestricted athletic activity. Certain spine injuries such as stingers may allow for return to play nearly immediately; whereas, other clinical entities such as spear tacklers spine are considered absolute contraindications to return to play.

Validation of a Web-Based Curriculum for Resident Education in Orthopedic Surgery [J Surg Educ (2016) 1060-65]

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Franciscan St. James Health, Chicago Heights, Illinois; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York; and Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Missouri—Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri