Salim Senturk

A critical appraisal of the North American Spine Society guidelines with the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II instrument.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT The North American Spine Society (NASS) publishes clinical guidelines that are taken into consideration worldwide by clinicians who have a special interest in spinal surgery. The Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) II is the second version of the original AGREE instrument to assess the quality of guidelines in terms of development process. This appraisal aims to evaluate each individual NASS guideline using AGREE II tool to demonstrate its methodologic robust and weakness. PURPOSE To evaluate the quality of the clinical practice guidelines published by the NASS. STUDY DESIGN Four appraisers used the AGREE II guideline evaluation instrument to evaluate the NASS guidelines. METHODS All six guidelines available on the NASS web site as of July 1, 2014 were evaluated. Four reviewers independently assessed these guidelines using the AGREE II instrument. The instrument standardizes the quantitative assessment of quality for a guidelines development process across six domains that include: scope and purpose, stakeholder involvement, rigor of development, clarity and presentation, applicability, and editorial independence. Additionally, each reviewer rated the overall quality of the guidelines. RESULTS Overall results for the AGREE II domains across all six guidelines were: scope and purpose (median score, 94.4%), stakeholder involvement (median score, 56.9%), rigor of development (median score, 91.7%), clarity of presentation (median score, 94.4%), applicability (median score, 60.9%), and editorial independence (median score, 71.9%). CONCLUSIONS Our study showed that the quality of the NASS guidelines needs some improvement. There is a critical need for broader stakeholder involvement including patient representatives and health economists. Consideration of resource implications and monitoring process and standardization of how recommendations are implemented need to be improved. Studies analyzing facilitators and barriers would be helpful for future NASS guidelines.

Thoracolumbar Fractures: A Review of Classifications and Surgical Methods

Thoracolumbar fractures are an important topic in spinal surgery. In this article, the instability of the thoracolumbar fracture classifications and surgical treatments are discussed, with a particular focus on treatment concepts that are based on the modern classification systems.

Effects of tadalafil—Type-V phosphodiesterase enzyme inhibitor—On rats with spinal trauma

Abstract In this research, the effect of tadalafil, a selective inhibitor of cyclic guanosine monophosphate-specific phosphodiesterase type 5, on rats with spinal trauma was evaluated. The evaluation consisted of neurological examination and biochemical parameters. Twenty healthy male Wistar albino rats were used in this study. They were separated into three groups: tadalafil-receiving (TD) group (n = 7), laminectomy and trauma (LT) group (n = 7), and just laminectomy group (n = 6). The TD group received daily dose of tadalafil (10 mg/kg) for a week along with bait and water. Each rats spinal cord was dissected with utter caution. The spinal cord was traumatized by Allens weight-drop method. Using a standard apparatus, 5 g of weight was dropped from a height of 10 cm on the spinal cords of the TD and LT (laminectomy + trauma) group. No extra maneuvers were conducted on the laminectomy group. A day later, the rats functional neurological status was examined followed by re-exploration of the spinal cord for sampling 1 cm of tissue. The Tarlov scale was used to evaluate the functional neurological status. The modified Tarlov scale was rated to be significantly higher in the TD group than that in the LT group. For the biochemical parameters, malondialdehyde (MDA) and cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) involved in the inflammatory process were examined. MDA—an indicator of lipid peroxidation—was found to be significantly lower in the TD group compared with that in the LT group. TNF-α and IL-6 levels were also found to be lower in the TD group compared with those in the LT group. Shortly, this research showed that the use of TD group in spinal trauma resulted in better neurological outcome and significant improvement in biochemical parameters.

Disc Rehydration after Dynamic Stabilization: A Report of 59 Cases

Study Design A retrospective study investigating decrease in the nucleus pulposus signal intensity or disc height on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and disc degeneration. Purpose Although a degenerated disc cannot self-regenerate, distraction or stabilization may provide suitable conditions for rehydration and possible regeneration. This study aimed to evaluate clinical outcomes and disc regeneration via MRI in a series of patients with degenerative disc disease (DDD) who underwent lumbar stabilization with a dynamic stabilization system (DSS). Overview of Literature A dynamic system provides rehydration during early DDD. Methods Fifty-nine patients (mean age, 46.5 years) who undedwent stabilization with DSS for segmental instability (painful black disc) between 2004 and 2014 were retrospectively evaluated. All patients underwent MRI preoperatively and 12 months postoperatively. Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration grades at the implanted segment were categorized using the Pfirrmann classification system. Patients were followed for a mean of 6.4 years, and clinical outcomes were based on visual analog scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) scores. Results Significant improvements in back pain VAS and ODI scores from before surgery (7 and 68%, respectively) were reported at 6 (2.85 and 27.4%, respectively) and 12 months postoperatively (1.8 and 16.3%, respectively). Postoperative IVD changes were observed in 28 patients. Improvement was observed in 20 patients (34%), whereas progressive degeneration was observed in eight patients (13.5%). Thirty-one patients (52.5%) exhibited neither improvement nor progression. Single Pfirrmann grade improvements were observed in 29% of the patients and two-grade improvements were observed in 5%. Conclusions Our observations support the theory that physiological movement and a balanced load distribution are necessary for disc regeneration. We conclude that DSS may decelerate the degeneration process and appears to facilitate regeneration.

Clinical Results of Median Corpectomy in Cervical Spondylotic Patients with Myelopathy.

AIM To determine the factors in choosing the right surgical technique for patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy. MATERIAL AND METHODS 60 patients were operated with anterior median corpectomy and anterior fusion for cervical myelopathy in Ankara Atatürk Education and Research Hospital between the years 2006-2011. All data were obtained from patient files retrospectively. Patients were evaluated in the preoperative and early postoperative stages and 45 days after discharge by referring to their neurological examinations, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) and Nurick scores and radiological findings. RESULTS The average age of the patients was 53.8 ± 9.9 years (38-78) and 45 were male (75%) and 15 were female (25%). Diabetics made up 16.7% (n=10) of the group and nondiabetics 83.3% (n=50). Of the nondiabetic patients, the Nurick score on the first month after surgery was statistically lower than the preoperative and after 24 hours Nurick score (p < 0.001). In the patients in the group that had 1 or 2 myelopathic findings, the Nurick score on the first month after surgery was statistically lower than the preoperative and after 24 hours Nurick score (p < 0.001). The JOA score one month after surgery was statistically lower in patients with myelomalacia than in patients without myelomalacia (p=0.002). CONCLUSION Median corpectomy and anterior fusion technique had better scores in patients that had few and early myelopathic symptoms, no myelomalacia on MRI, and no systemic disease.

How to reduce stress on the pedicle screws in thoracic spine? importance of screw trajectory: a finite element analysis

AIM To investigate the biomechanical comparison of thoracic transpedicular screw trajectories on the sagittal plane. MATERIAL AND METHODS A three-dimensional, non-linear finite element analysis (FEA) model of T8 through T9 was used. Anatomic trajectory (AT) and Straightforward trajectory (ST) models of the transpedicular screws were used in the intact FEA model. The von-Mises stress and range of motion (ROM) of the transpedicular screws were evaluated. RESULTS The difference in ROM between both techniques was negligible. In lateral bending and axial rotation, FEA showed decrease in stress by 25% and 8%, respectively, when pedicle screws were placed using AT. CONCLUSION AT decreased the von-Mises stress of the pedicle screws, thereby reducing the rates of screw breakage and fatigue risks. In addition, we believe that AT could protect against screw loosening because the von-Mises stress of the internal fixation was scattered.

Effects of resveratrol on inflammation and apoptosis after experimental spinal cord injury

AIM To determine the effects of resveratrol on inflammation and apoptosis after experimental spinal cord injury (SCI). MATERIAL AND METHODS Eighteen Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups. All groups underwent thoracic laminectomy. The first group received no other intervention. The second and third groups suffered SCI via the aneurysm clip compression method, and additionally the third group received resveratrol. After euthanizing the rats, immunohistochemical analysis and biochemical parameters of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-?) and interleukin (IL)-1? were measured. RESULTS The resveratrol group had statistically significant lower levels of TNF-?, IL -1?, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferasemediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) positive cells and higher number of glial and motor neuron cells. CONCLUSION Resveratrol proves to have remarkable neuroprotective effects on SCI in an experimental model in addition to its proven cardioprotective effects.

Complications of 2-level dynamic stabilization

AIM A retrospective chart and a radiographic review. Evaluation of postoperative complications, clinical improvements and radiological parameters in patients who underwent surgery using a dynamic system for 2-level lumbar stabilization. We aimed to investigate the postoperative complications, such as screw loosening, screw breakage and ASD, in patients who underwent surgery with 2-level dynamic stabilization systems. MATERIALS AND METHODS Dynamic lumbar systems enable the stabilization of unstable degenerative spines, while preventing fusion-related complications, such as adjacent segment disease(ASD) and pseudarthrosis. In our study a total of 103 patients with lumbar degenerative spinal instability underwent 2-level dynamic stabilization. Clinical findings were reviewed at a 2-year follow-up. Screw breakage and loosening were evaluated during this duration together with clinical findings. RESULTS Visual analog scale(VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index(ODI) scores significantly decreased at the four-month evaluation, and they were also decreased at the 1-year follow up and at the 24th postoperative month. Adjacent segment disease was diagnosed in twelve (8 females, 4 males) of the 103 patients in the follow-up radiological and clinical controls. There were 9 screw breakages and 4 screw loosening. The complication rate of 2-level of dynamic stabilization was high in this study. CONCLUSIONS Our results showed that complications (screw loosening or breakage and adjacent segment disease) are not rare after using the 2-level dynamic stabilization system, unlike the acceptable results with the single-level dynamic system. The most probable explanation is that the instrument system behaves more rigidly with every additional segment.

Is the use of hemostatic matrix (Floseal) and alkylene oxide copolymer (Ostene) safe in spinal laminectomies? Peridural fibrosis assessment

Objective Failed Back Syndrome (FBS) is unacceptable relief of pain or recurrence of symptoms in patients after spinal surgery, such as laminectomy. One possible cause of FBS is peridural fibrosis (PF). PF is the overproduction of scar tissue adjacent to the dura mater. Bleeding can cause PF after laminectomy. Ostene is an alkylene oxide copolymer material used to stop bleeding from bony surfaces. Floseal is a gelatin thrombin matrix sealant used to assist fibrin formation and to promote coagulation. Methods Total of 32 female Sprague–Dawley rats were evenly allotted to 4 experimental groups: laminectomy only, laminectomy + Ostene (Baxter International, Inc., Deerfield, IL, USA), laminectomy + Floseal (Baxter International, Inc., Deerfield, IL, USA), and laminectomy + Adcon-L (aap Implantate AG, Berlin, Germany). After performing total laminectomy, agents were placed over dura mater. Spinal column of test subjects was harvested 6 weeks after laminectomy. Histopathological examination of samples was based on Massons trichrome and hematoxylin and eosin staining. PF observed in the groups was graded using system previously described by He et al. Statistically significant p value was defined as p < 0.005. Results Present study revealed that Adcon-L, Ostene, and Floseal groups had reduced PF compared with laminectomy only group (p = 0.001). Comparison of Ostene and Floseal groups with Adcon-L group yielded no significant difference. Conclusion Reoperation as result of FBS has greater risk and often has poor outcome; surgeons must take precautions to avoid FBS, such as careful selection of appropriate patient and operation technique. Ostene and Floseal may be applied and left in the operation field safely during laminectomy to reduce occurrence of PF after procedure.

Diagnosis, treatment, and management strategy of meningioma during pregnancy

The most common benign tumor of the brain is meningiomas. Usually diagnosed between the ages of 40–60, they are more common in women. Studies have shown a strong relationship between hormones and malignancies. Although meningiomas are slow-growing tumors of the brain, pregnancy seems to induce its growth speed. Studies concerning meningiomas and hormone relationship may explain the reason why symptoms during pregnancy flare. More specifically, the estrogen and progesterone receptor may take an active role through signal transduction in inducing the growth of the tumor. Thus, the dilemma of pregnancy + meningioma arises. In this case, a 21-year-old pregnant with a giant meningioma diagnosed on the symptom of loss of sight is reported. Her pregnancy was terminated, and the tumor was excised. Her vision improved and the histopathological examination showed a progesterone receptor positive meningioma. It is a challenging decision to be made by the physician, the patient and the family when deciding if and when pregnancy should be terminated once an intracranial meningioma is diagnosed.