Objectives: To compare the outcomes of surgical treatment with lumbar fixation using nitinol rods without fusion and with standard lumbar fixation with titanium rods and interbody fusion. Methods: Treatment results of 70 patients with degenerative lumbar scoliosis aged 40 to 82 were analyzed. In all cases pedicle screws and nitinol rods with a diameter of 5.5 mm were used. Thirty patients underwent fixation at L1-S1 and 40 patients underwent fixation at L1-L5. Spinal fusion was not performed. All patients had radiography, CT and MRI performed. The results were assessed according to the Oswestry scale, SRS 22, SF 36 and VAS. The minimum follow-up period for all patients was 2.5 years. For the control group, consisting of 72 patients, pedicle fixation with titanium rods and interbody fusion in the lumbosacral region were performed. Results: The average level of deformity correction equaled 25° (10° - 38°). The analysis of X-ray and CT-scans revealed a single patient with implant instability, two patients with bone resorption around the screws and one patient with rod fractures. Functional radiography 2.5 years after surgery showed an average mobility of the lumbar spine of 21° (15° - 30°). There were no problems at the adjacent levels. Conclusions: The use of nitinol rods in spinal deformity surgery is promising. This technology is an alternative to rigid fixation. Continued gathering of clinical data and its further evaluation is necessary.

Objective. To analyze the leading pathogens of implant-associated infection (IAI) after spinal surgery and identification of trends in the change in the pattern of microorganisms at the stages of treatment using the negative pressure method (NPWT systems).Material and Methods. The results of microbiological cultures of 25 patients with IAI of the spine were studied. The frequency of occurrence of Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens was estimated. The leading pathogens in the species spectrum were identified. Changes in the structure of identified microorganisms were studied at various time intervals of treatment.Results. A total of 136 microbiological studies were performed in 25 patients at the stages of treatment with the negative pressure method, with the identification of microorganisms in 127 (93.3 %) cases. The frequency of gram-negative microflora was 50.0 %, gram-positive – 42.6 %, Candida sp. – 0.7%, in 15.4 % microbial associations with the dominance of gram-negative microflora were identified at all periods of treatment. Not only the diversity of the isolated flora was noted (E. faecalis – 16.5 %, P. aeruginosa – 14.2 %, K. pneumoniae – 11.0 %, S. aureus and A. baumannii – 9.4 % each and S. epidermidis – 8.6 %), but also changes in the spectrum of flora at the stages of treatment: on the 1st and 2nd weeks from the first debridement intervention and the installation of the NPWT system, E. faecalis was most often detected, on the 3rd and 4th weeks – P. aeruginosa and A. baumannii, during the 2nd month – E. faecalis and P. aeruginosa, later – gram-negative bacteria against the background of an increase in the incidence of K. pneumoniae. The frequency of verification of other species of microorganisms had no statistically significant differences. Microbial associations were found from the 2nd month of treatment. The change in pathogens was noted in 72 % of cases during the treatment of IAI of the spine. On average, this treatment required 7–8 NPWT dressing changes per patient. This method of treatment made it possible to achieve both negative results of microbiological examination and stable relief of the infectious process.Conclusion. IAI, which complicates surgical interventions on the spine, is characterized by a change in pathogens during treatment, which requires not only multiple debridement with the replacement of the NPWT dressing, but also adequate long-term rational (etiologically justified) antibacterial therapy, based on the control of data on both the spectrum and on microbial resistance.

Objective: To determine the amount of loss of function after spinal cord transection of varying extents, and whether magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, in combination with an external magnetic field, improve the rate of subsequent functional recovery in rats. Methods: The animals were divided into groups with 50%, 80% and complete spinal cord transection. The animals of all three study groups were administered magnetic iron oxide nanoparticle suspension to the area of injury. The three control groups were not administered magnetic nanoparticles, but had corresponding transection levels. All animals were exposed to a magnetic field for 4 weeks. Loss of postoperative function and subsequent recovery were assessed using the BBB motor function scale and somatosensory evoked potential monitoring on the first day after surgery, and then weekly. Terminal histological analysis was also conducted in all the groups. Results: The animals in the control or complete transection groups did not demonstrate statistically significant improvement in either the BBB scores or evoked potential amplitude over the four-week period. In the group with 50% transection, however, a statistically significant increase in evoked potential amplitude and BBB scores was observed four weeks after surgery, with the highest increase during the second week of the study. In the group with 80% transection, only improvement in evoked potential amplitude was statistically significant, although less pronounced than in the 50% transection group. Conclusion: The use of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles in combination with a magnetic field leads to higher rates of functional recovery after spinal cord injury in laboratory animals. The mechanism of this functional improvement needs further investigation.

To analyze surgical treatment of craniovertebral stenosis in patients with mucopolysaccharidosis. Material and Methods. A total of 9 patients (4 men, 5 women) with mucopolysaccharidosis were operated on for craniovertebral stenosis in 2012–2017. All patients underwent clinical examination, standard radiography of the cervical spine with functional tests to assess atlantooccipital stability according to Rothman, and MRI to determine the degree of the spinal cord compression, stenosis of the spinal canal, and changes in soft tissues surrounding the spinal canal due to fibrosis and accumulation of glycosaminoglycans. Maximum stenosis at the C0–C2 level was noted in 5 patients, at C1–C2 in 2, at C2–C4 in 1, and at C0–C1 in 1. Myelopathy in the upper cervical spine was detected in five cases. The overall somatic and functional statuses, as well as neurological parameters were assessed. Follow-up examination and X-ray examination were performed at 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery, and further every 6 months. Results. The average follow-up period was 2.5 years. The age of the patients varied from 1.8 to 34 years. After 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery, instrumentation was radiologically stable in all cases, there were no bone resorption signs around the elements of instrumentation. Seven patients showed a regression of neurologic symptoms and positive dynamics in the somatic status according to the assessment scales. In one patient, the neurological status remained unchanged. In one case, a temporary deterioration in the condition was noted after a failed intubation attempt, which required emergency tracheostomy, and operation was postponed to a later date to stabilize the condition. Complications after surgical treatment were observed in five patients. In one case, pseudoarthrosis, rod fracture, and instrumentation instability developed 1.5 years after the intervention, and revision surgery was required. Wound healing problems were observed in three patients and a liquorrhea in the early postoperative period, which was stopped without revision intervention – in one case. Conclusion. Decompression and stabilization in patients with mucopolysaccharidosis should be performed in advance, before any neurological disorder development. Fixation is required to prevent the development of instability, post-laminectomy deformities, and progression of cicatricial stenosis. Timely initiation of enzyme-replacement therapy improves the results of mucopolysaccharidosis treatment.

The article presents a clinical case of step-up surgical treatment of spinal canal stenosis at the craniovertebral and thoracolumbar level in a patient with mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) type VI. The treatment method gives an opportunity to achieve a satisfactory result at the background of severe metabolic disease.