Eric Bord

Study of the Long-Term Results of Decompressive Craniectomy after Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Based on a Series of 60 Consecutive Cases

Background. Decompressive craniectomy can be proposed in the management of severe traumatic brain injury. Current studies report mixed results, preventing any clear conclusions on the place of decompressive craniectomy in traumatology. Methods. The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate the results of all decompressive craniectomies performed between 2005 and 2011 for refractory intracranial hypertension after severe traumatic brain injury. Sixty patients were included. Clinical parameters (Glasgow scale, pupillary examination) and radiological findings (Marshall CT scale) were analysed. Complications, clinical outcome, and early and long-term Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) were evaluated after surgery. Finally, the predictive value of preoperative parameters to guide the clinicians decision to perform craniectomy was studied. Results. Craniectomy was unilateral in 58 cases and the mean bone flap area was 100 cm2. Surgical complications were observed in 6.7% of cases. Mean followup was 30 months and a favourable outcome was obtained in 50% of cases. The initial Glasgow Scale was the only statistically significant predictive factor for long-term outcome. Conclusion. Despite the discordant results in the literature, this study demonstrates that decompressive craniectomy is useful for the management of refractory intracranial hypertension after severe traumatic brain injury.

Symptomatic vertebral hemangiomas during pregnancy.

Symptomatic vertebral hemangiomas during pregnancy are rare, as only 27 cases have been reported in the literature since 1948. However, symptomatic vertebral hemangiomas can be responsible for spinal cord compression, in which case they constitute a medical emergency, which raises management difficulties in the context of pregnancy. Pregnancy is a known factor responsible for deterioration of these vascular tumors. In this paper, the authors report 2 clinical cases of symptomatic vertebral hemangiomas during pregnancy, including 1 case of spontaneous fracture that has never been previously reported in the literature. The authors then present a brief review of the literature to discuss emergency management of this condition. The first case was a 28-year-old woman at 35 weeks of gestation, who presented with paraparesis. Spinal cord MRI demonstrated a vertebral hemangioma invading the body and posterior arch of T-3 with posterior epidural extension. Laminectomy and vertebroplasty were performed after cesarean section, allowing neurological recovery. The second case involved a 35-year-old woman who presented with spontaneous fracture of T-7 at 36 weeks of gestation, revealing a vertebral hemangioma with no neurological deficit, but it was responsible for pain and local instability. Treatment consisted of postpartum posterior interbody fusion. With a clinical and radiological follow-up of 2 years, no complications and no modification of the hemangiomas were observed. A review of the literature reveals discordant management of these rare cases, which is why the treatment course must be decided by a multidisciplinary team as a function of fetal gestational age and maternal neurological features.

Overall Survival in Spine Myeloma Metastases: Difficulties in Predicting with Prognostic Scores.

Study Design. Fifty-one patients with spinal multiple myeloma (MM) metastases were operated and followed between January 2004 and July 2014. Objective. The aim of this study was to consider the efficiency of surgical prognosis scores in the management of spinal metastases myelomas. Summary of Background Data. The spine is the most common site of bone metastases in MM. Surgery in spine metastases MM is a matter of debate and its impact on the increase of a patients survival time is not clear. Several surgical survival scores have been developed to determine the best treatment in these patients. Methods. We studied 51 patients operated for spinal MM metastases between January 2004 and July 2014. We determined the Tokuhashi and Tomita survival scores and compared them with documented patient survivals. The two scores were also compared with the International Staging System (ISS). Results. Median survival (MS) was 108 months [standard deviation (SD) 62] for ISS I, 132.2 (SD 40) for ISS II, and 45.5 months (SD 16.3) for ISS III (P = 0.09). According to Tokuhashi survival score, 21 patients (41.2%) will survive <6 months, 6 (11.8%) 6 to 12 months, and 24 (47%) >12 months. According to Tomita et al., 50 patients (98%) will survive >49.9 months and 1 patient (2%) <15 months. Regardless of the ISS grade prognosis, Tokuhashi survival score, and to a lesser extent Tomita score, underestimated the actual survival very significantly [P < 0.0001, Log Rank (Mantel-Cox)]. Conclusion. We suggest that spine surgical prognosis scores are not accurate and are not able to predict the survival of patients with spine myeloma metastases. Spine surgeons have to be guided not by the initial ISS stage but rather by spinal instability and neurological status. Level of Evidence: N/A

Odontoid balloon kyphoplasty associated with screw fixation for Type II fracture in 2 elderly patients

Anterior screw fixation is a well-recognized technique that is used to stabilize Type IIB fractures of the odontoid process in the elderly. However, advanced age and osteoporosis are 2 risk factors for pseudarthrosis. Kyphoplasty has been described in the treatment of lytic lesions in C-2. The authors decided to combine these 2 techniques in the treatment of unstable fractures of the odontoid. Two approximately 90-year-old patients were treated for this type of fracture. Instability was demonstrated on dynamic radiography in one patient, and the fracture was seen on static radiography in the other. Clinical parameters, pain, range of motion, 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) score (for the first patient), and radiological examinations (CT scans and dynamic radiographs) were studied both before and after surgery. After inflating the balloon both above and below the fracture line, the authors applied a high-viscosity polymethylmethacrylate cement. Some minor leakage of cement was noted in both cases but proved to be harmless. The screws were correctly positioned. The clinical result was excellent, both in terms of pain relief and in the fact that there was no reduction in the SF-36 score. The range of motion remained the same. A follow-up CT scan obtained 1 year later in one of the patients showed no evidence of change in the materials used, and the dynamic radiographs showed no instability. This combination of kyphoplasty and anterior screw fixation of the odontoid seems to be an interesting technique in osteoporotic Type IIB fractures of the odontoid process in the elderly, with good results both clinically and radiologically.

A cost-minimization analysis in minimally invasive spine surgery using a national cost scale method

INTRODUCTION The last decade has seen the emergence of minimally invasive spine surgery. However, there is still no consensus on whether percutaneous osteosynthesis (PO) or open surgery (OS) is more cost-effective in treatment of traumatic fractures and degenerative lesions. The objective of this study is to compare the clinical results and hospitalization costs of OS and PO for degenerative lesions and thoraco-lumbar fractures. METHODS This cost-minimization study was performed in patients undergoing OS or PO on a 36-month period. Patient data, surgical and clinical results, as well as cost data were collected and analyzed. The financial costs were calculated based on diagnosis related group reimbursement and the French national cost scale, enabling the evaluation of charges for each hospital stay. RESULTS 46 patients were included in this cost analysis, 24 patients underwent OS and 22 underwent PO. No significant difference was found between surgical groups in terms of patients clinical features and outcomes during the patient hospitalization. The use of PO was significantly associated with a decrease in Length Of Stay (LOS). The cost-minimization revealed that PO is associated with decreased hospital charges and shorten LOS for patients, with similar clinical outcomes and medical device cost to OS. CONCLUSIONS This medico-economic study has leaded to choose preferentially the use of minimally invasive surgery techniques. This study also illustrates the discrepancy between the national health system reimbursement and real hospital charges. The medico-economic is becoming critical in the current context of sustainable health resource allocation.

Laser-treated Nucleus pulposus as an innovative model of intervertebral disc degeneration

This study describes an innovative experimentally induced model of intervertebral disc degeneration. This innovative approach is based on the induction of extracellular matrix disorders in the intervertebral disc (IVD) using a diode laser. For this study, 15 one-year-old and five 30-month-old New Zealand White rabbits were used. Two procedures were tested to trigger IVD degeneration: needle aspiration (reference technique) and a laser approach. The IVD degeneration process was assessed 20, 40, 60, 90 and 120 days after surgery by X-ray radiography (IVD height), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (T2 intensity of IVD signal) and histological analysis using modified Boos’ scoring. Our data indicate that a marked IVD degeneration was found compared with sham-operated animals regardless of the procedure tested. A significant decrease in disc height on X-ray radiographs was first demonstrated. In addition, MRI disc signals were significantly reduced in both groups. Finally, a statistically significant increase in Boos’ scoring was found in both laser and aspiration-induced IVD degeneration. Interestingly, IVD degeneration induced by laser treatment was more progressive compared with aspiration. Moreover, the histological results indicated that laser-induced disc degeneration was quite similar to that obtained during the natural aging process as observed in 30-month-old rabbits. Our study describes the consistency of this innovative experimentally-induced animal model of IVD degeneration. The radiological, MRI and histological data confirm its relevance. The histological examination indicates that IVD degeneration induced by laser treatment is comparable to the degenerative process observed during the onset of spontaneous IVD degeneration. This model could be a useful tool to help us validate biomaterial-assisted, cell-based, regenerative medicine strategies for the prevention and treatment of IVD degeneration.