Spinal epidural abscess associated with epidural catheterization: report of a case and a review of the literature.
(1/710)
We describe a 53-year-old man who developed a catheter-related epidural abscess 8 days after left upper lobectomy for lung cancer. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was detected in a culture of the epidural pus. Magnetic resonance imaging was essential for the diagnosis of epidural abscess and for determining the extent of spread. The patient was treated by laminectomy and administration of appropriate antibiotics, with almost complete recovery, except for urinary retention. A literature search yielded 29 additional cases of catheter-related epidural abscess. The median duration of catheterization was 4 days and the median time to onset of the clinical symptoms after catheter placement was 8 days. Eleven of the 30 patients had some underlying disorders, including malignancy or herpes zoster, or were receiving steroids. Nine of the 10 patients with thoracic epidural abscess had persistent neurological deficits, whereas 12 of the 15 patients with lumbar epidural abscess showed a full recovery after treatment. Surgical decompression was not required in six patients without significant neurological deficits, who recovered following antibiotic treatment (four patients) or percutaneous drainage (two patients). Thoracic catheters are associated with a disproportionately high incidence of epidural abscess and persistent neurological sequelae following treatment. (+info)
Multiple disc herniations in spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda. A case report.
(2/710)
Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia (SED) tarda is a group of inherited dysplasias in which the spine and the epiphyses of long bones are affected from late childhood. A 19-year-old male was diagnosed as SED tarda. He had a thoracic and then lumbar disc herniations which were separated by a 4-year interval. Surgical excision was performed for each disc herniation. This is the first case report of multiple disc herniations in SED. (+info)
The assessment of appropriate indications for laminectomy.
(3/710)
We have developed criteria to determine the appropriate indications for lumbar laminectomy, using the standard procedure developed at the RAND corporation and the University of California at Los Angeles (RAND-UCLA). A panel of five surgeons and four physicians individually assessed 1000 hypothetical cases of sciatica, back pain only, symptoms of spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, miscellaneous indications or the need for repeat laminectomy. For the first round each member of the panel used a scale ranging from 1 (extremely inappropriate) to 9 (extremely appropriate). After discussion and condensation of the results into three categories laminectomy was considered appropriate in 11% of the 1000 theoretical scenarios, equivocal in 26% and inappropriate in 63%. There was some variation between the six categories of malalignment, but full agreement in 64% of the hypothetical cases. We applied these criteria retrospectively to the records of 196 patients who had had surgical treatment for herniated discs in one Swiss University hospital. We found that 48% of the operations were for appropriate indications, 29% for equivocal reasons and that 23% were inappropriate. The RAND-UCLA method is a feasible, useful and coherent approach to the study of the indications for laminectomy and related procedures, providing a number of important insights. Our conclusions now require validation by carefully designed prospective clinical trials, such as those which are used for new medical techniques. (+info)
Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane for the prevention of peridural fibrosis after spinal surgery: an experimental study.
(4/710)
One of the most common complications of lumbar spine surgery is peridural fibrosis, a fibroblastic invasion of the nerve roots and the peridural sac exposed at operation. Peridural fibrosis may produce symptoms similar to those the patient experienced preoperatively and, if another spinal operation is necessary, may increase the risk of injury at reexposure. In a controlled study in dogs, we assessed the use of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) as a barrier to postoperative invasion of fibrous tissue into the laminectomy defect. In 14 dogs, a two-level laminectomy was done, at L4-L5 and L6-L7. In 12 dogs, an ePTFE membrane was placed directly over the dorsal surface of the laminectomy defect at L4-L5 and within the defect (over the surface of the dura) at L6-L7. No material was implanted in two dogs (controls). Tissue for histologic studies was obtained from the controls and from ten dogs with the membrane 12 weeks postoperatively. Two dogs with the membrane underwent reoperation. The study found that there was no peridural fibrosis in seven of the ten specimens in which the ePTFE membrane had been placed directly on the dorsal surface of the laminectomy defect, some peridural fibrosis in all specimens in which the membrane had been placed within the defect, and extensive fibrosis in controls. The ePTFE membrane created an excellent plane of dissection for reoperation. No foreign-body reactions to the membrane or membrane-related infections occurred. We conclude that the ePTFE spinal membrane, when properly implanted, is an effective barrier to postsurgical fibrous invasion of the vertebral canal. Clinical studies of use of this material in spinal surgery are warranted. (+info)
Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane for the prevention of peridural fibrosis after spinal surgery: a clinical study.
(5/710)
Peridural fibrosis developing after laminectomy may cause pain that can necessitate reoperation. Many materials have been used as a barrier to invasion of fibrous tissue into the vertebral canal, but the ideal material has not been found. Various studies in animals have achieved favourable results with an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membrane. In a prospective, randomized study, we compared postoperative results in 33 patients who had an ePTFE membrane implanted to cover the defect caused by laminectomy during lumbar spine decompression with the results in 33 patients in whom no material was implanted. At operation, an ePTFE membrane was placed after the decompression procedure to cover the laminectomy defect completely. Systematic clinical and MRI follow-up evaluations of patients with and without the membrane were conducted 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. The effect of ePTFE membrane implantation over laminectomy sites on postoperative peridural fibrosis, pain and neurological claudication was assessed. The ePTFE-membrane group had a significantly lower rate of epidural fibrosis on MRI (P<0.0001) and of clinical manifestations of radiculalgia (P = 0.002) compared with the no-material group. Epidural fibrosis that occurred in the ePTFE group was generally less extensive than that in the no-material group. There was no significant difference in the rate of postoperative claudication in the two groups. Significantly more seromas occurred in the ePTFE group (P = 0.0002). There were no infections or other complications in either group. The results showed that placement of an ePTFE spinal membrane over the laminectomy defect produced by lumbar spine surgery provided a physical barrier to invasion of fibrous tissue into the vertebral canal, and patients with the membrane had less postoperative radicular pain. (+info)
Is there a rational basis for post-surgical lifting restrictions? 1. Current understanding.
(6/710)
Lifting restrictions postoperatively are quite common, but there appears to be little scientific basis for them. Lifting restrictions are inhibitory in terms of return to work and may be a factor in chronicity. The mean functional spinal motion unit stiffness changes with in vitro or computer-simulated discectomies, facetectomies and laminectomies were reviewed from the literature. We modified the NIOSH lifting equation to include another multiplier related to stiffness change post surgery. The new recommended lifts were computed for different lifting conditions seen in industry. The reduction of rotational stiffness ranged from 21% to 41% for a discectomy, 1% to 59% for a facetectomy and 4% to 16% for a partial laminectomy. The recommended lifts based on our modified equation were adjusted accordingly. There is no rational basis for current lifting restrictions. The risk to the spine is a function of many other variables as well as weight (i.e., distance of weight from body). The adjusted NIOSH guidelines provide a reasonable way to estimate weight restrictions and accommodations such as lifting aids. Such restrictions should be as liberal as possible so as to facilitate, not prevent, return to work. Patients need more advice regarding lifting activities and clinicians should be more knowledgeable about the working conditions and constraints of a given workplace to effectively match the solution to the patient's condition. (+info)
Is there a rational basis for post-surgical lifting restrictions? 2. Possible scientific approach.
(7/710)
Lifting restrictions postoperatively are quite common but there appears to be little scientific basis for them. Lifting restricitions are inhibitory in terms of return to work and may be a factor in chronicity. The mean changes in functional spinal motion unit (FSU) stiffness with in vitro or computer-simulated discectomies, facetectomies and laminectomies were reviewed from the literature. We modified the NIOSH lifting equation to include another multiplier related to stiffness change post surgery. The new recommended lifts were computed for different lifting conditions seen in industry. The reduction of rotational stiffness ranged from 21% to 41% for a discectomy, 1% to 59% for a facetectomy and 4% to 16% for a partial laminectomy. The recommended lifts based on our modified equation were adjusted accordingly. There is no rational basis for current lifting resctrictions. The risk to the spine is a function of many other variables as well as weight (i.e., distance of weight from body). The adjusted NIOSH guidelines provide a reasonable way to estimate weight restrictions and accomodations such as lifting aids. Such resitrictions should be as liberal as possible so as to facilitate, not prevent, return to work. Patients need more advice regarding lifting activities and clinicians should be more knowledgeable about the working conditions and constraints of a given workplace to effectively match the solution to the patient's condition. (+info)
Acute spinal cord compression due to intraspinal bleeding from a vertebral hemangioma: two case-reports.
(8/710)
Vertebral hemangiomas can cause acute spinal cord compression either after a minor trauma or during the last 3 months of pregnancy. Failure to recognize the lesion can lead to potentially serious treatment delays. An emergency MRI scan usually establishes the diagnosis of vertebral hemangioma responsible for spinal cord compression requiring laminectomy. We report two cases showing that posterior fixation should be considered: in our experience it prevents vertebral collapse during the interval preceding secondary vertebroplasty, which, if performed, provides highly significant pain relief. (+info)