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Background/AimsMechanical alterations of the spine, which can cause chronic low back pain (LBP), are a frequent indication for spinal fusion. Studies have shown differences between genders in patients’ evaluations of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after spinal procedures, but results have been conflicting, and some authors have suggested that cultural variation could explain these discrepancies. The objectives of this study were to determine the influence that gender plays on HRQoL, disability, and the correlation between the 2 in people undergoing spinal fusion for chronic LBP at a neurosurgical centre in Eastern Europe. MethodsPatients undergoing fusion surgery at a single centre for LBP with a duration of more than 3 months were included. They were evaluated using the Short Form Health Survey version-2.0 (SF-36v2) and Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Index (ODI) questionnaire preoperatively and 1 year after the surgical procedure to identify differences between genders and to evaluate correlations between disability and quality of life. ResultsWe included 31 female and 30 male patients. The male patients had higher disability scores at the preoperative evaluation, but improved more than females in all domains of disability at the postoperative evaluation. HRQoL improved similarly in both genders. The ODI score showed a strong or moderate correlation with 6 of the domains of the SF-36 in males, but with only 3 domains in females. Surgery had a positive impact on the mental status of more men than women at risk of depression. ConclusionThe type of benefit that surgery offers seems to be influenced by gender. While HRQoL improved in both genders, disability decreased significantly more in male patients. Male patients also showed a closer correlation between HRQoL and disability. We conclude that men and women place different importance on specific aspects of their overall quality of life.

Study Design:Case series.Objective:Thoracolumbar burst fractures (TLBF) are the most frequent type of spinal fractures. Approximately half of the patients are neurologically intact and their treatment is still debatable. Gender could influence outcome after surgical procedures, but this is still unclear in patients sustaining a spinal fracture. The aim of this study was to investigate how gender influences health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and disability in patients operated on for TLBF.Methods:We identified 44 neurologically intact patients from a consecutive series of patients treated surgically for a single-level traumatic burst fracture (AOSpine Subaxial Classification System A3) in the thoracolumbar transition area (Th12-L2). At 1 year after surgery, they were evaluated using the SF-36v2 questionnaire to assess HRQOL and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) questionnaire to evaluate disability.Results:Male patients scored higher in each item of the SF-36v2, with significant differences (P < .05) for Physical Function (PF), Bodily Pain (BP), and Social Function (SF). Male patients also had lower disability scores. Overall ODI score had a strong correlation with Physical Function, Role-Physical, Bodily Pain, Vitality, Mental Health, and overall Physical Component Summary (PCS) of the SF-36 in women, but only with Physical Function, Role-Physical, Role-Emotional, and PCS in men.Conclusions:In this study, male patients reported better outcomes at 1 year after surgery for TLBF than women. Disability strongly correlated with the overall HRQOL, physical and mental health in women, but not in men. We found gender-related differences favoring men after surgical interventions for spinal fractures.

Aim: This study want to demonstrate the efficaciousness of drotaverinum as a replacer of papaverine in the prevention and treatment of vasospasm. Material and method: In this study were used 20 albino Wistar male rats. Rats were divided in two groups and vasospasm was induced to the both femoral artery and after that irrigation of the femoral arteries with drotaverinum was performed to demonstrate the vasodilatation that can appear (group A). In the group B after the obtaining of vasospasm irrigation of the femoral arteries with saline solution was performed and this group was used as witness. The length of the vessels was measured when was achieved the vasospasm and also before and after the administration of the solutions. Pictures were taken at every step of dissection and solutions administration to can measure the length of arteries before and after the administration of drotaverinum and the saline solution. Results: In all rats was obtained vasospasm at the femoral artery after clipping the artery and after we irrigate with adrenaline. In the group with drotaverinum we obtained the vasodilatation and in the witness group the caliber of the vessels remain the same. The statistical analysis of the data demonstrate a significant differences between the group were was used drotaverinum and the witness group were was used the saline solution (p<0,001). Conclusions: Drotaverinum has a good vasodilatative effect on arteries and he can prevent the apparition of vasospasm and it can even treat vasospasm if occur by producing local vasodilatation and a good circulation in the area where is administrated. This study showed quantitatively that drotaverinum can treat the experimental peripheral vasospasm in rats.

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