No abstract

Isolated and combined degenerative tandem cervical and lumbar spinal stenoses:The paper presents detailed definitions, anatomical features and analytical data on the epidemiology and etiopathogenesis of isolated lumbar and cervical spinal stenoses and their combinations (tandem stenoses). Most widely used classifications of stenosing processes of the spine, modern X-ray imaging methods for diagnosis of spinal stenosis and approaches to surgical treatment are described. Key Words: spinal canal stenosis, isolated stenosis, tandem stenosis, degenerative diseases of the spine, diagnosis, surgical treatment.Please cite this paper as: Byvaltsev VA, Shepelev VV, Nikiforov SB, Kalinin АА. Isolated and combined degenerative tandem cervical and lumbar spinal stenoses: literature review. Hir. Pozvonoc. 2016;13(2):52-61.In Russian.

Analysis of magnetic resonance image (MRI) quality after open (Op)-transforaminal interbody fusion (TLIF) and minimally invasive (MI)-TLIF with the implantation of structurally different systems has not previously been performed. The objective of this study was to conduct a comparative analysis of the postoperative MRI following MI and Op one-segment TLIF. Material and Methods: The nonrandomized retrospective single-center study included 80 patients (46 men and 24 women) aged 48 + 14.2 years. In group I (n = 20) Op-TLIF with open transpedicular screw fixation (TSF) was performed, in II group (n = 60), the MI-TLIF technique was used: IIa (n = 20)—rigid interspinous stabilizer; IIb (n = 20)—unilateral TSF and contralateral facet fixation; IIc (n = 20)—bilateral TSF. Results: Comparison of the quality of postoperative imaging in IIa and IIb subgroups showed fewer MRI artifacts and a significantly greater MR deterioration after Op and MI TSF. Comparison of the multifidus muscle area showed less atrophy after MI-TLIF and significantly greater atrophy after Op-TLIF. Conclusion: MI-TLIF and Op-TLIF with TSF have comparable postoperative MR artifacts at the operative level, with a greater degree of muscle atrophy using the Op-TLIF. Rigid interspinous implant and unilateral TSF with contralateral facet fixation have less artifacts and changes in the multifidus muscle area.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the accelerated recovery program for patients with polysegmental degenerative diseases of the lumbar spine.Materials and Methods. This prospective study included 53 patients who underwent two-level transforaminal interbody fusion in the L II -S I segments. Two groups were identified: in group 1 (n=24), operations were performed using the accelerated recovery program; in group 2 (n=29), open rigid stabilization was used under traditional intravenous anesthesia. The end-point parameters were the number of bed-days spent in the hospital after the operation, the number of perioperative surgical complications and adverse effects of anesthesia, and the number of re-hospitalizations within 90 days. We also recorded the time of patient activation, the level of pain around the operated zone (using a visual analogue scale), and the quality of life in the long-term postoperative period (median 18 months); the latter was assessed using the SF-36 questionnaire (physical and psychological components of health).Results. Patients under the accelerated recovery program were found to have a shorter duration of surgery and anesthesia, less blood loss, lower amounts of injected opioids, faster verticalization, and a reduced period of inpatient treatment (p<0.05 for all parameters). As compared to group 2, patients in group 1 had a lower level of pain in the surgery zone (p<0.05), better long-term indicators of the physical and psychological components of health (p<0.05), a lower number of anesthesia-associated adverse events (p<0.05), and a lower rate of postoperative complications (p<0.05). During the 90-day postoperative observation, four patients of group 2 (13.8%) were urgently referred to a medical institution for additional medical care.Conclusion. The accelerated recovery program for two-level interbody fusion showed its safety and high clinical efficiency in the treatment of patients with polysegmental degenerative diseases of the lumbar spine. The program can be used in any center for spine surgery where effective interaction between polyvalent medical and nursing teams is maintained.

BACKGROUND Expandable cages are often used to reconstruct cervical corpectomies but there are few long-term follow-up studies with large numbers. OBJECTIVE To analyze the clinical and radiographic results of cervical corpectomy reconstructed with expandable cages for degenerative stenosis. METHODS We performed a retrospective analysis of 78 patients with degenerative cervical stenosis treated with a corpectomy reconstructed with an expandable cage. We evaluated the clinical and radiographic outcomes, as well as complications of the procedure at a minimum 2-yr follow-up. RESULTS There was a decrease in the visual analog scale pain average from 75 mm to 8.5 mm (P = .02); a decrease in the Neck Disability Index average from 55% to 12% (P = .009); and improvement in the Japanese Orthopaedic Association average from 12 to 14 points (P = .01). There was a change in cervical lordosis (Cobb method) average from −9.3° to −15.1° (P = .002), without significant loss of lordosis (P = .63). The fusion rate, by criteria of the Cervical Spine Research Society (CSRS), was low: using dynamic X-rays – 50% (n = 39/78) and using computed tomography (CT) – 47.4% (n = 37/78). A total of 11 patients (14.1%) suffered complications. CONCLUSION To our knowledge, this is the largest series (78) with a minimum 2-yr follow-up in the literature and the first using the dynamic radiographic and CT criteria endorsed by the CSRS. Using these criteria, our fusion rates were much lower than all previous reports in the literature. Despite this, patient-reported outcomes were reasonable. There was a relatively low incidence of perioperative complications, most of which were likely not implant-specific and there was only 1 case of implant failure.