Leon Kaplan

Secondary prevention of low-back pain : a clinical trial

A clinical trial, aimed at secondary prevention of low-back pain, was performed in 142 hospital employees reporting at least three annual episodes of this condition. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: a calisthenics program (CAL) for 3 months with biweekly sessions of flexion exercises, a back school program (5 sessions), and a control group. The effectiveness of the two intervention programs was evaluated over a 1-year period. Baseline preintervention data and evaluation at the end of 3 months of intervention and after an additional 6 months were collected. A monthly surveillance for the whole year showed a mean of 4.5 “painful months” in the CAL group versus 7.3 and 7.4 months in the back school and control groups, respectively (P < 0.0001). The superiority of the CAL group was achieved partly because of the significant increase in trunk forward flexion and to initial increment in abdominal muscle strength. The increased trunk flexion was associated with the rate of participation in the CAL sessions. Further research is needed to answer the question of “intensity versus type of exercise” by comparing different intervention programs, with similar intensity.

Sequential or simultaneous, same-day anterior decompression and posterior stabilization in the management of vertebral osteomyelitis of the lumbar spine

Study Design. A retrospective clinical study of patients with vertebral osteomyelitis of the lumbar spine necessitating surgical treatment. All patients underwent sequential(same‐day) or simultaneous anterior decompression and posterior stabilization of the involved vertebrae. Objective. To evaluate the efficacy and clinical outcome of sequential or simultaneous anterior and posterior surgical approaches in the management of vertebral osteomyelitis of the lumbar spine. Summary of Background Data. Anterior approach alone and staged anterior decompression and posterior stabilization have been advocated as the surgical treatment methods of choice for patients with vertebral osteomyelitis of the lumbar spine. The drawbacks of the latter management plan are the necessity to use external support or the delayed patient mobilization and the need for additional anesthesia and surgical trauma. Sequential (same‐day) anterior and posterior approaches are used regularly in the surgical management of scoliosis and other spinal deformities. It would appear advantageous to also use the same strategy (i.e., combined same‐day double approaches) in the management of vertebral osteomyelitis of the lumbar spine. Methods. Ten consecutive patients who had a diagnosis of vertebral osteomyelitis of the lumbar spine underwent combined (same‐day) anterior and posterior approaches either in a sequential or simultaneous manner. Indications for surgery included neurologic deficit, abscess formation, instability with localized kyphosis formation, and failure of nonoperative treatment. Patients were evaluated clinically and radiographically after surgery. Results. All 10 patients had uneventful surgery. Only one patient required a second surgical procedure because of expulsion of the anterior bone graft and pullout of instrumentation. All patients were mobilized within the 2 days immediately after surgery. At the mean follow‐up examination 30 months after surgery, all patients had regained their motor function and prior ambulatory status. Conclusions. Patients with lumbar osteomyelitis necessitating surgery can undergo combined, same‐day surgery either in a sequential or simultaneous manner. This is a safe and efficient way to control the infection and stabilize the affected segments, allowing for early mobilization of these sick elderly patients.

Transverse ligament rupture and atlanto-axial subluxation in children

We report four children aged two to nine years with traumatic tears of the transverse ligament of the atlas and atlanto-axial subluxation. This is extremely rare in this age group since trauma usually causes a skeletal rather than a ligamentous injury. The injuries resulted from falls or motor vehicle accidents, with considerable delay in diagnosis. Flexion radiographs showed atlas-dens intervals (ADI) of 6, 7, 8 and 13 mm; all four patients were treated by posterior fusion at C1-C2 after the failure of conservative treatment. In one child with quadriparesis and a fixed ADI of 13 mm, transoral anterior resection of the odontoid was performed before the fusion. Diagnosis of this traumatic lesion requires a high level of suspicion. Conservative treatment is likely to fail; surgical stabilisation is indicated.

The Outcomes of Manipulation or Mobilization Therapy Compared with Physical Therapy or Exercise for Neck Pain: A Systematic Review

Study Design Systematic review. Study Rationale Neck pain is a prevalent condition. Spinal manipulation and mobilization procedures are becoming an accepted treatment for neck pain. However, data on the effectiveness of these treatments have not been summarized. Objective To compare manipulation or mobilization of the cervical spine to physical therapy or exercise for symptom improvement in patients with neck pain. Methods A systematic review of the literature was performed using PubMed, the National Guideline Clearinghouse Database, and bibliographies of key articles, which compared spinal manipulation or mobilization therapy with physical therapy or exercise in patients with neck pain. Articles were included based on predetermined criteria and were appraised using a predefined quality rating scheme. Results From 197 citations, 7 articles met all inclusion and exclusion criteria. There were no differences in pain improvement when comparing spinal manipulation to exercise, and there were inconsistent reports of pain improvement in subjects who underwent mobilization therapy versus physical therapy. No disability improvement was reported between treatment groups in studies of acute or chronic neck pain patients. No functional improvement was found with manipulation therapy compared with exercise treatment or mobilization therapy compared with physical therapy groups in patients with acute pain. In chronic neck pain subjects who underwent spinal manipulation therapy compared to exercise treatment, results for short-term functional improvement were inconsistent. Conclusion The data available suggest that there are minimal short- and long-term treatment differences in pain, disability, patient-rated treatment improvement, treatment satisfaction, health status, or functional improvement when comparing manipulation or mobilization therapy to physical therapy or exercise in patients with neck pain. This systematic review is limited by the variability of treatment interventions and lack of standardized outcomes to assess treatment benefit.

Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma: The importance of preoperative neurological status and rapid intervention

We describe the presentation, management, and outcome of spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) in two tertiary academic centers. We retrospectively reviewed clinical and imaging files in patients diagnosed with SSEH from 2002-2011. Neurologic status was assessed using the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS). A total of 17 patients (10 females; mean age 54 years, range 10-89) were included. Among patients presenting with AIS A, 5/8 showed no improvement and 3/8 reached AIS C. Among those presenting with AIS C, 5/6 reached AIS E and 1/6 reached AIS D. Of those presenting with AIS D, 3/3 reached AIS E. Mean time-to-surgery (TTS) was 28 hours (range 3-96). TTS surgery in two patients remaining at AIS A was ⩽ 12 hours; in 4/8 patients recovering to AIS E it was > 12 hours, including three patients operated on after > 24 hours. In patients remaining at AIS A, a mean of 4.4 levels were treated compared with means of 3.7 and 3.5 in those with AIS C and E, respectively, at late follow-up. In this series, preoperative neurological status had greater impact on late outcome than time from symptom onset to surgery in patients with SSEH.

Cement augmentation in spinal tumors: a systematic review comparing vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty

Study design: Comparative effectiveness review. Study rationale: The spine is among the most common location for bony metastases. In many cases these metastases cause fractures leading to increased morbidity. Percutaneous cement augmentation techniques have been developed over the past decades for the treatment of these fractures; however, there are little data comparing these interventions. Clinical question: Do comparative studies of vertebral cement augmentation for fractures caused by spinal tumors provide evidence of improved patient outcomes? Methods: A systematic search and review of the literature was undertaken to identify studies published through June 8, 2011. Two individuals independently reviewed articles based on inclusion and exclusion criteria which were set a priori. Each article was evaluated using a predefined quality-rating system and an overall strength of evidence determined. Results: The literature consists primarily of case series. Only two studies comparing vertebroplasty with kyphoplasty were found. Pain scores in both treatment groups were significantly decreased relative to preoperative scores and appear to have been sustained at follow-up times to 1 year. It is unclear whether one treatment provided superior pain relief than the other. Both studies reported decreased analgesic use after both treatments but neither study compared use between treatment groups. Balloon rupture occurred in one kyphoplasty patient in one study and extravasation of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) cement into the anterior perivertebral soft tissue was seen in another patient in the vertebroplasty group and no patients in the kyphoplasty group in the other study. No other intraoperative or postoperative complications occurred. Conclusions: There is only limited evidence from comparative studies (two small retrospective cohort studies) regarding the benefits of vertebroplasty versus kyphoplasty in patients with spinal fractures caused by tumors. Both appear to be effective in reducing pain with relatively few complications. Whether one method provides superior results over the other cannot be determined from the available evidence. Study limitations preclude making definitive conclusions. The overall strength of evidenced is very low.

Preoperative embolization of hypervascular spinal tumors: current practice and center experience

Abstract Preoperative transarterial embolization of hypervascular spinal tumors has been extensively used, and is considered to be a highly effective adjuvant technique in reducing intraoperative blood loss during surgery. Moreover, it has been reported to increase the feasibility and safety of the surgical procedure, leading to better surgical outcomes. We review the English literature in an attempt to identify indications, appropriate timing of embolization in relation to surgery, technical aspects of the procedure, complications, and the contribution of embolization to the surgical management of spinal tumors. In addition, we report our experience with embolization of hypervascular metastases

Robot-assisted vertebral body augmentation: a radiation reduction tool.

Study Design. Retrospective. Objective. To assess radiation exposure time during robot-guided vertebral body augmentation compared with other published findings. Summary of Background Data. Rising incidence of vertebral compression fractures in the aging population result in widespread use of vertebral body cement augmentation with significant radiation exposure to the surgeon, operating room staff, and patient. Radiation exposure leads to higher cancer rates among orthopedic and spine surgeons and patients. Methods. Thirty-three patients with 60 vertebral compression fractures underwent robot-guided vertebral body augmentation performed by 2 surgeons simultaneously injecting cement at 2 levels under pulsed fluoroscopy. The age of patients was in the range from 29 to 92 (mean, 67 yr). One to 6 vertebrae were augmented per case (average 2). Twenty-five patients had osteoporotic fractures and 8 had pathological fractures. Robotic guidance data included execution rate, accuracy of guidance, total surgical time, and time required for robotic guidance. Radiation-related data included the average preoperative computed tomographic effective dose, radiation time for calibration, registration, placement of Kirschner wires, and total procedure radiation time. Radiation time per level and surgeons exposure were calculated. Results. Kyphoplasty was performed in 15 patients (1 sacroplasty), vertebroplasty in 13, and intravertebral expanding implants in 5. The average preoperative computed tomographic effective dose was 50 mSv (18–81). Average operative time was 118 minutes (49–350). Mean robotic guidance took 36 minutes. Average operative radiation time was 46.1 seconds per level (33–160). Average exposure time of the surgeons and the operating room staff per augmented level was 37.6 seconds. The execution rate was 99%, with an accuracy of 99%. Two complications (hemothorax and superficial wound infection) occurred. Conclusion. The radiation exposure of the surgeon and the operating room staff in a series of robot-assisted vertebral body augmentation was 74% lower than published results on fluoroscopy guidance and approximately 50% lower than the literature on navigated augmentation. Level of Evidence: 4

Disc degeneration after disc herniation: are we accelerating the process?

Study design: Systematic review. Study rationale: Disc degeneration is a common process starting early in life. Often disc herniation is an early step in disc degeneration, which may cause pain or stenosis. How quickly this subsequent disc degeneration occurs following a disc herniation and subsequent surgical treatment and whether certain spinal procedures increase the rate of degeneration remain unclear. Objectives: To investigate the risk of subsequent radiographic disc degeneration following discectomy, discography, and conservative care in patients with a first-time diagnosed herniated nucleus pulpous (HNP) and to ascertain whether this risk in these defined groups changes over time. Methods: A systematic review of pertinent articles published up to June 2012. Key articles were searched to identify studies evaluating the risk of subsequent radiographic disc degeneration following treatment for HNP. Studies that included patients undergoing secondary surgery for disc herniation or that did not use a validated classification system to measure the severity of disc degeneration were excluded. Two independent reviewers assessed the strength of evidence using the GRADE criteria and disagreements were resolved by consensus. Results: From a total of 147 possible citations, three cohort studies (class of evidence III) met our inclusion criteria and form the basis for this report. The risk of subsequent lumbar disc degeneration following standard discectomy was significantly greater compared with both microdiscectomy (48.7% vs 9.1%) and asymptomatic controls (90% vs 68%) in two studies with mean follow-ups of 5.5 and 25.3 years, respectively. Following conservative care for first-time HNP in the third study, the risk of progression of lumbar disc degeneration was 47.6% over the first 2 years of follow-up and 95.2% over the next 6 years of follow-up. In the same study, the risk of lumbar disc degeneration was shown to increase incrementally over the course of the 8-year follow-up, with all patients showing signs of degeneration at final examination. Conclusion: Standard discectomy in first-time lumbar HNP may increase the risk of subsequent same-level lumbar disc degeneration compared with microdiscectomy as seen in one low-quality study. However, disc degeneration is likely a natural, temporal consequence following HNP, as demonstrated in a second low-quality study. The overall strength of evidence for the conclusions is very low.

Evidence for the Adverse Effect of Starvation on Bone Quality: A Review of the Literature

Malnutrition and starvations possible adverse impacts on bone health and bone quality first came into the spotlight after the horrors of the Holocaust and the ghettos of World War II. Famine and food restrictions led to a mean caloric intake of 200–800 calories a day in the ghettos and concentration camps, resulting in catabolysis and starvation of the inhabitants and prisoners. Severely increased risks of fracture, poor bone mineral density, and decreased cortical strength were noted in several case series and descriptive reports addressing the medical issues of these individuals. A severe effect of severely diminished food intake and frequently concomitant calcium- and Vitamin D deficiencies was subsequently proven in both animal models and the most common cause of starvation in developed countries is anorexia nervosa. This review attempts to summarize the literature available on the impact of the metabolic response to Starvation on overall bone health and bone quality.