Wound Revision Research Articles

Discharge Disposition and Clinical Outcomes After Spine Surgery.

Spinal decompression with or without fusion is one of the most commonly performed procedures in spine surgery. However, there is limited evidence on the effect of discharge environment on outcomes after surgery. The purpose of this study is to identify the effects of discharge disposition setting on clinical outcomes after spine surgery. Patients who underwent lumbar decompression, lumbar decompression and fusion, or posterior cervical decompression and fusion surgery were retrospectively identified. All clinical and demographic data were obtained from electronic health records. Surgical outcomes included wound complications, revision surgery, "30-day" readmission (0-30 d), and "90-day" readmission (31-90 d). Discharge disposition was stratified into home/self-care, acute inpatient rehabilitation, and subacute rehabilitation. Patient-reported outcome measures including VAS Back, VAS Leg, VAS Neck, VAS Arm, PCS-12 and MCS-12, ODI, and NDI were compared between patient discharge disposition settings using the Mann-Whitney U test. Pearson's chi-square analysis was used to assess for differences in wound complications, revision surgery, 30-day readmission, or 90-day readmission rates. Multivariate logistic regression incorporating age, sex, body mass index (BMI), Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), and discharge disposition was used to determine independent predictors of wound complications. A total of 637 patients were included in the study. A significant difference (P = 0.03) was found in wound complication based on discharge disposition, with subacute disposition having the highest proportion of wound complications (6.1%) and home disposition having the lowest (1.5%). There were no significant differences in the rates of revision surgery, 30-day readmission, or 90-day readmission between groups. Subacute rehabilitation (odds ratio: 3.67, P = 0.047) and CCI (odds ratio 1.49, P = 0.01) were independent predictors of wound complications. Significant improvement in PROMs was seen across all postacute discharge dispositions. Baseline (P = 0.02) and postoperative (P = 0.02) ODI were significantly higher among patients discharged to an acute facility (49.4 and 32.0, respectively) compared to home (42.2 and 20.0) or subacute (47.4 and 28.4) environments. Subacute rehabilitation disposition and CCI are independent predictors of wound complications after spinal decompression surgery. Patients undergoing spine surgery have similar readmission and revision rates and experience similar clinical improvement across all postacute discharge dispositions.

Movement Is Life-Optimizing Patient Access to Total Joint Arthroplasty: Obesity Disparities.

Thirty five percent of the American population is considered obese (body mass index [BMI] > 30). Obesity disproportionately affects African Americans, Hispanics, and women. Obesity is associated with postoperative complications, including wound complications, infections, and revision total joint arthroplasty (including total hip arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty). Current BMI benchmarks (many institutions rely on a BMI of 40) selectively preclude patients from having surgery. Patients in these underserved populations can be optimized through the lens of shared decision making through the assessment of food security (eg, food deserts and food swamps), ability to afford healthy food, knowledge of social safety net and community resources to access healthy food, nutrition and weight loss referrals to programs that accept all forms of insurance, weight loss measurements as a percentage of body weight lost instead of BMI cutoffs, pharmacologic modalities, and bariatric surgery.

Anterior vs Posterior Approach in Multilevel Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: A Nationwide Propensity-Matched Analysis of Complications, Outcomes, and Narcotic Use.

There is unclear evidence regarding the optimal surgical approach for multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). The objective of this study was to compare complications, outcomes, and narcotic use in anterior discectomy and fusion (ACDF) vs posterior decompression and fusion (PCDF) in CSM patients. Registry-based retrospective cohort analysis. Patients undergoing 3-level ACDF or PCDF for CSM between 2007 and 2017 were identified from the Humana Claims Database using relevant procedure codes. Propensity score-matched groups were compared in regards to complications, outcomes, and narcotic use. Propensity score matching generated equal cohorts of 6124 patients. The posterior fusion group had a higher rate of urinary tract infection (OR 2.47, P < 0.0001), deep vein thrombosis (OR 1.90, P < 0.0001), and pulmonary embolism (OR 1.75, P < 0.0001). In regards to 30-day outcomes, the posterior approach demonstrated higher rates of stroke (OR 1.68, P < 0.0001), wound dehiscence (OR 5.59, P < 0.0001), Surgical site infection (SSI) (OR 4.76, P < 0.0001), wound revision surgery (OR 3.02, P < 0.0001), and all-cause readmission (OR 2.01, P < 0.0001). One-year outcomes revealed higher rates of pseudarthrosis (4.7% vs 2.0%, OR 2.43, P < 0.0001) and revision or extension surgery (OR 2.33, P < 0.0001) in the posterior fusion cohort. These patients also demonstrated significantly higher mean morphine milligram equivalent used at 30 days (OR 1.19, P < 0.0001), as well as 60 (OR 1.20, P < 0.0001), 90 (OR 1.21, P < 0.0001), and 120 (OR 1.21, P < 0.0001) days. This nationwide propensity-matched analysis of multilevel CSM patients found the posterior approach to be associated with increased rates of inpatient complications, wound complications, 30-day readmission, 1-year pseudarthrosis, and 1-year revision or extension surgery. These patients also demonstrated higher levels of narcotic use up to 120 days after surgery. The posterior approach for treatment of CSM may be associated with increased rates of short- and long-term complications in addition to increased narcotic consumption in comparison to the anterior approach.

Perforator-based keystone flap in the reconstruction of extensive tissue defects after lumbosacral spondylodesis

Prolonged surgical site infections after spinal fusion surgery may lead to exposure of the implant due to the formation of extensive tissue defects and endanger the clinical outcome. This study aims to enlighten the role of the keystone perforator flap method in the reconstruction of lumbar soft tissue defects. The retrospective study included 11consecutive patients with a wound dehiscence of over 6 × 6 cm defect area persisting for 2weeks after spinal fusion. The keystone perforator flap was applied for the reconstruction of tissue defects, whereas the arterial blood supply of the flaps was based on the intramuscular and intermuscular perforating branches of the dorsal branches of the lumbar arteries. The median age of our cohort was 58years. The median body mass index (BMI) and Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) were 29.9 and 3.4, respectively. In eight cases alumbosacral was carried out whereas in the remaining series alumbar fusion was performed. In the course of the subsequent wound revision, on average 4applications of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) were performed. The average defect size was 7.5 cm in width and 16.5 cm in length. The microbiological analysis of the tissue samples obtained intraoperatively after repeated NPWT revealed positive evidence of pathogenic bacteria in all cases. The average duration of inpatient treatment after flap surgery was 15days, which was significantly shorter than the NPWT management of the open defect wounds (15.5 ± 2.5 vs. 37 ± 16.5, p < 0.05). The keystone perforator flap offers astable coverage for soft tissue defects and supports infection control after spinal fusion.

РЕВИЗИЯ ТРАВМАТИЧЕСКИХ РАН С ИЗВЛЕЧЕНИЕМ ИЗ НИХ ИНОРОДНЫХ ТЕЛ С ПОМОЩЬЮ АВТОРСКИХ ИНСТРУМЕНТОВ

Traumatic injuries with the presence of a wound channel and a foreign body are severe injuries, often leading to significant damage to organs and tissues. Timely wound revision in these situations, in combination with foreign body eradication, directly determines good results in further wound healing. The presence of fragments and foreign bodies in the wound canal necessitates their extraction with minimal tissue trauma due to the close location of vascular and neural structures, which means an increased risk of iatrogenic damage, while the known surgical instruments do not allow this to be achieved duly. Aim. Development of instruments applicable for the revision of wounds with a foreign body in the wound channel, as well as with its subsequent extraction, used in various types of access and various anatomical areas. Materials and methods. Using the method of digital modeling, prototypes of instruments were designed and subsequently manufactured. Experimental testing of the developed tools has been carried out. The material for the study was cadaveric material provided by the Department of Normal Anatomy of the Belarusian State Medical University. Results. The instrument for revision of traumatic wounds of the maxillofacial region and extraction of foreign bodies from them and the surgical hook for revision of traumatic wounds have been developed. Both devices are convenient in operation, while the harpoon-like shape of the working part of the instruments allows you to successfully extract a foreign body from the wound channel with minimal deformation during manipulation, reduce the penetration force, which reduces the trauma of the instrument passing through the tissues, which ensures the integrity of nearby structures and fast wound healing. Conclusion. The developed instruments are effective in the revision of traumatic wounds and the extraction of bone fragments and foreign bodies from them.

Negative Pressure Wound Therapy in Facilitating Wound Healing After Surgical Decompression for Metastatic Spine Disease

The risk of wound-related complications, including surgical site infections (SSIs), in patients undergoing surgery for metastatic spine disease (MSD) is high. Consequently, patients requiring wound revision surgery face delay in resuming oncological care and incur additional hospitalization. Recent reports suggest that negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) applied on a closed wound at the time of surgery significantly reduces postoperative wound complications in degenerative spine disease and trauma setting. Here, we report a single institution experience with incisional NPWT in patients undergoing surgery for MSD. We compared rates of wound complications requiring surgical revision in a surgical cohort of patients with or without NPWT from 2015 to 2020. Adult patients with radiographic evidence of MSD with mechanical instability and/or accelerated neurological decline were included in the study. NPWT was applied on a closed wound in the operating room and continued for 5 days or until discharge, whichever occurred first. A total of 42 patients were included: 28 with NPWT and 14 without. Patient demographics including underlying comorbidities were largely similar. NPWT patients had higher rates of prior radiation to the surgical site (36% vs. 0%, P= 0.017) and longer fusion constructs (6.7 vs. 3.9 levels, P < 0.001). Three patients (21%) from the control group and none from the NPWT group contracted SSI requiring wound washout (P= 0.032). Our data suggest that SSI and wound dehiscence are significantly reduced with the addition of incisional NPWT in this vulnerable population.

Placental Location in Maternal-Fetal Surgery for Myelomeningocele

Introduction: Uterine incision based on the placental location in open maternal-fetal surgery (OMFS) has never been evaluated in regard to maternal or fetal outcomes. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether an anterior placenta was associated with increased rates of intraoperative, perioperative, antepartum, obstetric, or neonatal complications in mothers and babies who underwent OMFS for fetal myelomeningocele (fMMC) closure. Methods: Data from the international multicenter prospective registry of patients who underwent OMFS for fMMC closure (fMMC Consortium Registry, December 15, 2010–June 31, 2019) was used to compare fetal and maternal outcomes between anterior and posterior placental locations. Results: The placental location for 623 patients was evenly distributed between anterior (51%) and posterior (49%) locations. Intraoperative fetal bradycardia (8.3% vs. 3.0%, p = 0.005) and performance of fetal resuscitation (3.6% vs. 1.0%, p = 0.034) occurred more frequently in cases with an anterior placenta when compared to those with a posterior placenta. Obstetric outcomes including membrane separation, placental abruption, and spontaneous rupture of membranes were not different among the 2 groups. However, thinning of the hysterotomy site (27.7% vs. 17.7%, p = 0.008) occurred more frequently in cases of an anterior placenta. Gestational age (GA) at delivery (p = 0.583) and length of stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (p = 0.655) were similar between the 2 groups. Fetal incision dehiscence and wound revision were not significantly different between groups. Critical clinical outcomes including fetal demise, perinatal death, and neonatal death were all infrequent occurrences and not associated with the placental location. Conclusions: An anterior placental location is associated with increased risk of intraoperative fetal resuscitation and increased thinning at the hysterotomy closure site. Individual institutional experiences may have varied, but the aggregate data from the fMMC Consortium did not show a significant impact on the GA at delivery or maternal or fetal clinical outcomes.

Resection of the proximal femur during one-stage revision for infected hip arthroplasty : risk factors and effectiveness.

One-stage revision hip arthroplasty for periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) has several advantages; however, resection of the proximal femur might be necessary to achieve higher success rates. We investigated the risk factors for resection and re-revisions, and assessed complications and subsequent re-revisions. In this single-centre, case-control study, 57 patients who underwent one-stage revision arthroplasty for PJI of the hip and required resection of the proximal femur between 2009 and 2018 were identified. The control group consisted of 57 patients undergoing one-stage revision without bony resection. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify any correlation with resection and the risk factors for re-revisions. Rates of all-causes re-revision, reinfection, and instability were compared between groups. Patients who required resection of the proximal femur were found to have a higher all-cause re-revision rate (29.8% vs 10.5%; p = 0.018), largely due to reinfection (15.8% vs 0%; p = 0.003), and dislocation (8.8% vs 10.5%; p = 0.762), and showed higher rate of in-hospital wound haematoma requiring aspiration or evacuation (p = 0.013), and wound revision (p = 0.008). The use of of dual mobility components/constrained liner in the resection group was higher than that of controls (94.7% vs 36.8%; p < 0.001). The presence and removal of additional metal hardware (odds ratio (OR) = 7.2), a sinus tract (OR 4), ten years' time interval between primary implantation and index infection (OR 3.3), and previous hip revision (OR 1.4) increased the risk of proximal femoral resection. A sinus tract (OR 9.2) and postoperative dislocation (OR 281.4) were associated with increased risk of subsequent re-revisions. Proximal femoral resection during one-stage revision hip arthroplasty for PJI may be required to reduce the risk of of recurrent or further infection. Patients with additional metalware needing removal or transcortical sinus tracts and chronic osteomyelitis are particularly at higher risk of needing proximal femoral excision. However, radical resection is associated with higher surgical complications and increased re-revision rates. The use of constrained acetabular liners and dual mobility components maintained an acceptable dislocation rate. These results, including identified risk factors, may aid in preoperative planning, patient consultation and consent, and intraoperative decision-making. Cite this article: Bone Joint J2021;103-B(11):1678-1685.

Posterior fossa decompression for children with Chiari I malformation and hydrocephalus.

Chiari I malformation (CMI) and hydrocephalus often coexist, with no clear understanding of the cause-and-effect relationship. In the absence of other associated etiologies, the traditional teaching has been to treat the hydrocephalus first, partly to minimize the risk of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak from CMI decompression in the setting of elevated ICP. We describe a series of consecutive pediatric patients with CMI and hydrocephalus, the majority of whom were managed with posterior fossa decompression. A retrospective review was conducted on consecutive children who presented to the senior author with both hydrocephalus and CMI, with emphasis on rationale for and outcomes of surgical intervention, including the need for additional surgery. There were 14 patients aged 2weeks to 16years (median 2years) who presented with Chiari I and hydrocephalus. Four of these underwent posterior fossa decompression without duraplasty (PFD) as first-line therapy (one of whom eventually required duraplasty), 7 had PFD with duraplasty (PFDD), 1 received a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS), and two had endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV). Of the 11 who had PFD/D, 9 (90%) had significant symptom improvement/resolution, 7 (55%) showed decrease in ventricle size, and 1 (10%) required VPS placement for persistent hydrocephalus. Both ETV patients improved clinically, and 1 showed decrease in ventricle size. There were no pseudomeningoceles, infections, or neurological deficits. One CSF leak occurred after an ETV and was successfully treated with wound revision. In patients with both CMI and hydrocephalus, treating the CMI first in an effort to avoid a shunt can be safe and effective. In this series, PFDD in the setting of hydrocephalus did not result in CSF leak or pseudomeningocele. While limited by a small sample size, these data support a causative relationship between CMI and hydrocephalus.

Long-Term Outcomes of Two-Piece Mushroom Keratoplasty for Traumatic Corneal Scars

To report the outcomes of 2-piece microkeratome-assisted mushroom keratoplasty (MK) for eyes with full-thickness traumatic corneal scars and otherwise functional endothelium following corneal penetrating injury. This was an interventional case series. In this single-center study, 41 consecutive eyes with traumatic corneal scars that underwent 2-piece microkeratome-assisted mushroom keratoplasty were evaluated. The 2-piece mushroom graft consisted of an anterior lamella 9 mm in diameter and a posterior lamella 6 mm in diameter. Outcome measures were best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), refractive astigmatism (RA), endothelial cell density, and postoperative complication rates. Of the 41 total cases, 38 eyes (93%) reached Snellen vision ≥20/100, 36 (88%) reached ≥20/60, 29 (71%) reached ≥20/40, and 13 (32%) reached ≥20/25 2 years following MK. Excluding eyes with vision-impairing comorbidities, baseline logMAR BSCVA (1.41 ± 0.73) significantly improved annually during the first 2 years (P < 0.001), reaching 0.16 ± 0.13 at year 2, which subsequently remained stable up to 10 years (P=.626). The RA exceeded 4.5 diopters in 2 cases (5%) after wound revision for high-degree astigmatism in 5 cases. Endothelial cell loss was 35.1% at 1 year, with an annual decline of 2.9% over 10 years. Elevation in IOP was observed postoperatively in 7 eyes, of which 6 had pre-existing glaucoma. The 10-year cumulative risk for graft rejection and failure was 8.5% and 10%, respectively. Two-piece microkeratome-assisted MK for traumatic corneal scars can allow excellent visual rehabilitation with relatively stable ECL and low rates of immunologic rejection and graft failure.

Use of vacuum systems for early implant-associated infection after decompression and stabilization surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis

Objective. To analyze the results of treatment of patients with implant-associated surgical site infection after decompression and stabilization surgery performed for lumbar spinal stenosis.Material and Methods. Results of treatment of 43 patients with early (up to 90 days after the operation) suppuration of the surgical wound after decompression and stabilization operations for lumbar spinal stenosis were analyzed.Results. A total of 4033 operations for lumbar spinal stenosis with implantation of stabilization systems were performed from 2015 to 2019. There were 43 (1.06 %) cases of early suppuration of the surgical wound with the installed instrumentation. Out of them seven (16.27 %) cases were superficial and 36 (83.78 %) – deep. In all cases, the wound revision, surgical debridement and installation of a vacuum assisted closure (VAC-dressing) were performed. The treatment of superficial suppuration was accompanied by a single installation of a VAC-dressing before wound closure, and in deep suppuration from 2 to 8 (on average 4.10 ± 1.73) VAC-dressings were changed. Wound healing was achieved in all patients within 14–55 (average 29.10 ± 10.06) days. Timely diagnosis of the complication and application of negative pressure therapy allowed arresting the inflammatory process and preserving the implants in all patients with a follow-up period of 12 months.Conclusion. In the case of development of early suppuration of the surgical wound, the patient needs an urgent sanitizing operation. Negative pressure treatment with VAC-dressings is an effective and safe way to relieve this complication. This method combined with etiotropic antibiotic therapy makes it possible to quickly cleanse and heal the wound while preserving the implanted instrumentation.

A Review of Consecutive Cases to Identify the Rate of Underlying Osteomyelitis in Patients Undergoing Surgical Treatment of Gangrene of the Forefoot and Impact of Acute Infection on Outcome Following Amputation

Medical literature offers no clear treatment guidelines when performing amputations for gangrene of the forefoot despite a high percentage that suffer poor outcome due to infection. Gas gangrene and wet gangrene are often preceded by dry stable gangrene. This is a retrospective review of consecutive patients who underwent forefoot amputation and bone biopsy as treatment of forefoot gangrene by a single surgeon. Procedures performed included digital, ray, or transmetatarsal amputation with bone biopsy sent for both culture and histopathologic evaluation. One hundred patients (35 females, 65 males) met inclusion criteria. Mean follow-up was 9.6 months. Mean age was 63.5 years old. Forty-six out of 100 (46%) had elective amputation while 54/100 (54%) were emergent for acute infection. Vascular intervention was performed in 52/100 (52%). Seventy-eight out of 100 (78%) had histopathologic diagnosis of acute osteomyelitis while 82/100 (82%) had positive bone culture. Patients with acute infection had worse outcomes, with higher rates of more proximal amputation and delayed wound healing. We found that 79.7% of patients who underwent forefoot amputation due to gangrene had underlying osteomyelitis. We also found that those with acute infection during the time of amputation had poorer postamputation outcomes such as delayed wound healing, revision surgery, and high rates of more proximal amputation. Therefore, it may imply that earlier amputation of stable gangrene prior to becoming acutely infected may decrease the occurrence of osteomyelitis and avoid some of the preventable postamputation complications. Further studies are warranted.

22. Robotic assisted vs conventional posterior lumbar fusion: An analysis of 90-day complications and readmissions

<h3>BACKGROUND CONTEXT</h3> Although robotic-assisted spinal fusion is gaining traction in the United States, little is known whether the robotic assistance during pedicle screw placement is associated with lower complication rates following elective posterior lumbar fusions. <h3>PURPOSE</h3> The purpose of this study was to assess whether robotic-assistance in elective posterior lumbar fusions is associated with a difference in the rates of 90-day medical and surgical complications. <h3>STUDY DESIGN/SETTING</h3> Retrospective review of administrative claims data. <h3>PATIENT SAMPLE</h3> This was a retrospective review of insurance claims from an all-payer dataset, Symphony Integrated DataVerse (IDV). The Symphony IDV was queried using International Classification of Diseases 10th Edition (ICD-10) procedure codes to identify patients undergoing elective posterior lumbar fusions for degenerative spine pathologies between 2015 and 2018. Patients undergoing cervical fusions, thoracic fusions and/or fusions for deformity, malignancy and trauma were excluded from the study. Patients undergoing concurrent anterior fixation and/or combined fusions were also removed from the study. ICD-10 procedure codes (8E0W4CZ, 8E0W0CZ, 8E0W3CZ) were used to identify patients undergoing a robotic-assisted spinal fusion. <h3>OUTCOME MEASURES</h3> Ninety-day medical and surgical complications. <h3>METHODS</h3> Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess whether undergoing a robotic-assisted fusion (vs conventional fusion) was associated with differences in wound complications, medical complications, pseudarthrosis, revision surgery and readmissions within 90 days of surgery (adjusting for age, gender, region, comorbidity burden, use of interbody, payor/plan type, length of fusion [1-level vs greater than 1 level]). <h3>RESULTS</h3> Following application of inclusion/exclusion criteria, a total of 39,387 patients undergoing elective posterior lumbar fusions were included in the cohort, out of which 245 (0.6%) underwent a robotic-assisted fusion. Multivariate analysis showed that robotic-assisted fusion (vs conventional fusion) was not associated with significant differences in 90-day rates of pseudarthrosis (p=0.945), wound complications (p=0.299), urinary tract infections (p=0.648), acute myocardial infarctions (p=0.209), acute renal failure (p=0.461), pneumonia (p=0.214), stroke (p=0.917), deep venous thrombosis (p=0.562), pulmonary embolism (p=0.401), revision fusion (p=0.862), readmissions (p=0.985). <h3>CONCLUSIONS</h3> Using a cohort of nearly 40,000 patients undergoing posterior lumbar fusion, our findings show that patients who underwent a robotic-assisted fusion had similar rates of surgical and medical complications, as compared to those who underwent a conventional fusion. Further studies using more granular prospective data that collects information on patient-reported outcomes, is warranted to better understand the future role of robots in spine surgery. <h3>FDA DEVICE/DRUG STATUS</h3> This abstract does not discuss or include any applicable devices or drugs.

Is It Possible to Save the Deep Brain Stimulation Hardware when Presenting with Wound Dehiscence or Hardware Infection?

Introduction: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) hardware complications have been traditionally managed by removal of the entire system. Explantation of the system results in prolonged interruption to the patient’s care and potential challenges when considering reimplantation of the cranial leads. The purpose of this study was to understand whether complete explantation can be avoided for patients initially presenting with wound dehiscence and/or infection of hardware. Methods: We performed a retrospective study that included 30 cases of wound dehiscence or infection involving the DBS system. Patients underwent reoperation without explantation of the DBS system, with partial explanation, or with complete explantation as initial management of the complication. Results: A total of 17/30 cases were managed with hardware-sparing wound revisions. The majority presented with wound dehiscence (94%), with the scalp (n = 9) as the most common location. This was successful in 76.5% of patients (n = 13). Over 11/30 patients were managed with partial explantation. The complication was located at the generator (91%) or at the scalp (9%). Partial explantation was successful in 64% of patients (n = 7). In cases that underwent a lead-sparing approach, 33% of patients ultimately required removal of the intracranial lead, and 2/30 cases of hardware infection were managed initially with total explantation. Discussion/Conclusion: Wound dehiscence can be successfully managed without complete removal of the DBS system in most cases. In cases of infection, removing the involved component(s) and sparing the intracranial leads may be considered. Wound revision without removal of the entire DBS system is safe and can improve quality of life by preventing or shortening the withdrawal of DBS treatment.

Characterization of standard work tools for intrathecal baclofen therapy.

Intrathecal baclofen (ITB) has been an effective therapy since the 1980s, with widely reported revision, infection, and complication rates. Publications targeting surgical workflow have resulted in decreased infection and revision rates, but a standard workflow for the entire pathway has not been described. To present, define, and test standard work tools for patients receiving ITB to promote uniformity and standard of care in the field. A multidisciplinary approach from the movement disorder program of a tertiary care center defined all steps comprising the ITB pathway, and then developed standard work tools to decrease variability with respect to preoperative workup, day of surgery protocol, post-operative care, and also evaluation and treatment with respect to pump infection or malfunction. Defined steps used at specific points of ITB pathway are presented with a single institution's outcome using the protocol from July 2017 to November 2020. A total of 60 procedures were performed. The overall complication rate was 14.5% at 6months. Complications included an infection rate of 3.6% at 6months, wound revision rate of 1.8% at 6months, CSF leak rate of 1.7% at 6months, and a 30-day readmission rate related to initial surgery of 6.7%. Workflow efficiency and optimization for ITB patients can be used to obtain lower complication rates compared to historical cohorts in literature. A single-center, retrospective review highlights this.

Dislocation rates following total hip arthroplasty via the direct anterior approach in a consecutive, non-selective cohort.

Use of the direct anterior approach (DAA) for total hip arthroplasty (THA) has increased in recent years due to proposed benefits, including a lower risk of dislocation and improved early functional recovery. This study investigates the dislocation rate in a non-selective, consecutive cohort undergoing THA via the DAA without any exclusion or bias in patient selection based on habitus, deformity, age, sex, or fixation method. We retrospectively reviewed all patients undergoing THA via the DAA between 2011 and 2017 at our institution. Primary outcome was dislocation at minimum two-year follow-up. Patients were stratified by demographic details and risk factors for dislocation, and an in-depth analysis of dislocations was performed. A total of 2,831 hips in 2,205 patients were included. Mean age was 64.9 years (24 to 96), mean BMI was 29.2 kg/m2 (15.1 to 53.8), and 1,595 patients (56.3%) were female. There were 11 dislocations within one year (0.38%) and 13 total dislocations at terminal follow-up (0.46%). Five dislocations required revision. The dislocation rate for surgeons who had completed their learning curve was 0.15% compared to 1.14% in those who had not. The cumulative periprosthetic infection and fracture rates were 0.53% and 0.67%, respectively. In a non-selective, consecutive cohort of patients undergoing THA via the DAA, the risk of dislocation is low, even among patients with risk factors for instability. Our data further suggest that the DAA can be safely used in all hip arthroplasty patients without an increased risk of wound complications, fracture, infection, or revision. The inclusion of seven surgeons increases the generalizability of these results. Cite this article: Bone Joint J2021;103-B(7 Supple B):38-45.

Multi-stage treatment of non-specific spondylodiscitis of the cervical spine

The objective is to present a clinical case of successful treatment of a patient with recurrent spondylitis at the cervical level.Clinical case. A 65-year-old patient was diagnosed with purulent spondylodiscitis at the level of C6-C7 vertebrae with the epidural and paravertebral abscesses and spinal cord compression. Emergency left colotomy, paravertebral abscess dissection, corporectomy of the C6 vertebra, abscess removal, anterior spondylodesis with bone autograft and titanium plate were performed. Massive antibacterial therapy was prescribed. After the operation, the volume of movement in the left limbs was restored, and on the 15th day after the operation, the patient was discharged. On the 36th day after discharge, she was hospitalized again with hematuria. A recurrence of suppuration in the area of the operation and phlegmon of both feet was revealed. Revision of the surgical wound and rehabilitation of the purulent focus on the neck, surgical intervention for phlegmon were performed. In purulent foci, Staphylococcus aureus was verified, which is sensitive to the main antibacterial drugs. Antibacterial therapy was continued, then, after changing the microflora in the wound, other antibiotics were prescribed. There was a pain in the area of the left spinal root C5. The connection of the fistula course with the titanium plate, the increase of pathological kyphosis at the level of the overlying vertebrae was found. The wound was examined, the titanium plate was removed, and the halo device was applied to correct the pathological kyphosis. After the operation, the radicular pain syndrome regressed, and the axis of the cervical spine was restored. After 1 month, the posterior combined fixation of the cervical spine at the C3-Th7 level was performed, and the halo device was dismantled. After 6 months, the patient was stopped wearing the Philadelphia neck collar, no recurrence of suppuration was observed, and a complete regression of neurological disorders was noted. After 1 year, a complete bone block is preserved between the C4-C7 vertebrae.Conclusion. The presented clinical case clearly illustrates the complexity of managing patients with inflammatory diseases of the cervical spine. Currently, there is no single treatment strategy for patients with spondylitis.

Robotic-Assisted Versus Conventional Posterior Lumbar Fusion—An Analysis of 90-Day Complications and Readmissions

To evaluate medical and surgical complication rates between robotic-assisted versus conventional elective posterior lumbar fusions. The Symphony Integrated DataVerse was queried using International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition, Clinical Modification procedure codes to identify patients undergoing elective posterior lumbar fusions for degenerative spine pathologies between 2015 and 2018. International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition, Clinical Modification procedure codes (8E0W4CZ, 8E0W0CZ, 8E0W3CZ) were used to identify patients undergoing a robotic-assisted spinal fusion. Outcome measures were 90-day medical and surgical complications, 1-year pseudarthrosis, and 1-year revision surgery rates. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess whether undergoing a robotic-assisted fusion (vs. conventional fusion) was associated with differences in wound complications, medical complications, pseudarthrosis, revision surgery, and readmissions within 90 days of surgery. A total of 39,387 patients undergoing elective posterior lumbar fusions were included in the cohort-of whom 245 (0.62%) patients underwent a robotic-assisted fusion. Multivariate analysis showed that robotic-assisted fusion (vs. conventional fusion) was not associated with significant differences in 90-day rates of wound complications (P= 0.299), urinary tract infections (P= 0.648), acute myocardial infarctions (P= 0.209), acute renal failure (P=0.461), pneumonia (P= 0.214), stroke (P= 0.917), deep venous thrombosis (P= 0.562), pulmonary embolism (P=0.401), and readmissions (P= 0.985). In addition, there were no significant differences in the 1-year rates of revision fusions (P= 0.316) and pseudarthrosis (P= 0.695). Patients who underwent a robotic-assisted fusion had similar rates of surgical and medical complications compared with those who underwent a conventional fusion. Further studies are warranted to better understand the future role of robots in spine surgery.

Improvement in Quality of Life Following Surgical Resection of Benign Intradural Extramedullary Tumors: A Prospective Evaluation of Patient-Reported Outcomes.

Historically, symptomatic, benign intradural extramedullary (IDEM) spine tumors have been managed with surgical resection. However, minimal robust data regarding patient-reported outcomes (PROs) following treatment of symptomatic lesions exists. Moreover, there are increasing reports of radiosurgical management of these lesions without robust health-related quality of life data. To prospectively analyze PROs among patients with benign IDEM spine tumors undergoing surgical resection to define the symptomatic efficacy of surgery. Prospective, single-center observational cohort study of patients with benign IDEM spine tumors undergoing open surgical resection. Pre- and postoperative Brief Pain Index (BPI) and MD Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI) questionnaires were used to quantitatively assess their symptom control after surgical intervention. Matched pairs were analyzed with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. A total of 57 patients met inclusion criteria with both pre- and postoperative PROs. There were 35 schwannomas, 18 meningiomas, 2 neurofibromas, 1 paraganglioma, and 1 mixed schwannoma/neurofibroma. Most patients were American Spinal Injury Association Impairment (ASIA) E (93%) with high-grade spinal cord compression (77%), and underwent either a 2 or 3 level laminectomy (84%). Surgical resection resulted in statistically significant improvement in all 3 composite BPI constructs of pain-severity, pain-interference, and overall patient pain experience (P<.0001). Surgical resection resulted in statistically significant improvements in all composite scores for the MDASI core symptom severity, spine tumor, and disease interference constructs (P<.01). Three patients (5%) had postoperative complications requiring surgical interventions (2 wound revisions and 1 ventriculo-peritoneal shunt). Surgical resection of IDEM spine tumors provides rapid, significant, and durable improvement in PROs.

Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Surgery in Obese Patients

Objective: Obesity is becoming a major health problem in the Western world. Results of mitral valve surgery through standard sternotomy in obese patients are controversial especially because of high risk of respiratory, infective and wound complications. Minimally invasive approach could be an advantage in this subgroup of high-risk patients. Methods: From January 2006 to January 2020, 1510 patients underwent minimally invasive mitral valve surgery in our department, of these 131 (8.7%) were obese patients (BMI≥30). Results: 48% of the patients were male, mean age was 63.8±11.2 years, mean Logistic EuroSCORE was 10.8±15.4. Main comorbidities were: hypertension (72.5%), diabetes (29%), COPD (20.6%), chronic renal failure (19.8%), peripheral vasculopathy (7.6%), AF (42%) and pulmonary hypertension (14.5%). The mean EF was 55.2±11.3%. 30 (22.9%) patients had undergone previous cardiac surgery and 6.1% were urgencies. Mitral valve repair was performed in 42.7%, TV surgery (12.2%) and AF-cryoablation (13.7%) were associated procedures. Mean cardiopulmonary and cross clamp time were respectively 141±51 and 96±33 minutes. The most used aortic clamp technique was endoreturn (58%). Conversions to sternotomy were 3.8%. Operative mortality was 0.7%. Reoperation for bleeding occurred in 3.8% patients. Postoperatively, in 6.9% cases was necessary haemodialysis, in 5.4% PM implantation and in 2.3% tracheostomy. Neurological complications occurred in 2.3% patients. Groin wound infection/lymphocele occurred in 6 (4.6%) patients and in 5 (3.8%) surgical wound revision was necessary. Thoracic wound revision was performed in only one case. Mean and median intubation time, ICU and hospital stay were respectively 41±136 h (11h), 3.5±6.8 days (1.0 day) and 11.4±11.8 days (8.0 days). The 30-day mortality rate was 4.6%. Conclusions: Minimally invasive approach appears to be safe, feasible and reproducible permitting a good mitral valve exposure even in obese patients. It is associated with low post-operative complications, especially wound related