Intraoperative spinal cord and nerve root monitoring: a survey of Canadian spine surgeons

Background

Intraoperative spinal cord and nerve root monitoring is used to identify an insult to the neural elements with the goal of preventing injury. There are 2 major categories of monitoring: evoked potentials (somatosensory evoked potentials and motor evoked potentials) and electromyography. The availability of intraoperative neuromonitoring and the indications for use vary widely. In this study, we aimed to document the current practices and opinions of Canadian spine surgeons with regards to intraoperative spinal monitoring.

Methods

We surveyed members of the Canadian Spine Society about the availability and use of various types of intraoperative neuromonitoring modalities for surgical procedures.

Results

We distributed 105 surveys and received 95 responses (90%). Somatosensory evoked potentials were the most commonly available form of intraoperative neuromonitoring, although it was available to only 65.3% of respondents. Surgeons in either full-time or part-time academic practice used monitoring more frequently than those in private practice (p < 0.001), but this association was not based on surgeon preference after controlling for availability. Years of practice and training background (orthopedic or neurosurgical) did not influence the use of monitoring. Canadian spine surgeons overwhelmingly reported that they use intraoperative neuromonitoring to reduce the risk of adverse operative events, rather than because of liability concerns. Most respondents believed that monitoring should be used in the correction of major deformity and scoliosis.

Conclusion

The availability of spinal monitoring in Canada is variable. Most surgeons believe that it is an important adjunct to improve patient safety.     

Correlation between cervical spine sagittal alignment and clinical outcome after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion

Studies have shown that maintenance of lordosis improves outcomes after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). The relationship between maintenance or restoration of lordosis after ACDF and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measures has not been evaluated. Preoperative and 2-year postoperative cervical lordosis (C2-C7) and segmental lordosis were measured from upright lateral cervical spine radiographs in patients who had ACDF. Data on the Neck Disability Index (NDI), Short- Form-36 Physical Composite Summary Score, arm, and neck pain scores were also collected. Paired t-tests were used to compare preoperative and 2-year postoperative radiographic measures and HRQOL measures. Receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed to identify sagittal parameters that predict achievement of a Minimum Clinically Important Difference (MCID) in outcome measures. One hundred one patients (75 female; mean age, 52 years) were included. There was improvement in all HRQOL measures from preoperative to 2 years postoperative. There was no significant difference in preoperative and 2-year postoperative sagittal alignment. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that a postoperative cervical lordosis of at least 6° predicted achievement of MCID for NDI (8 point change in NDI). This suggests that maintenance or restoration of overall cervical lordosis is important in achieving a successful result after ACDF.     

Drug shortages in Canadian anesthesia: a national survey

Background

Canadian physicians are faced with an increasing frequency of drug shortages. We hypothesized that drug shortages have a clinical impact on anesthesia care in Canada.

Methods

We conducted a self-administered survey of anesthesiologists in Canada using the membership list of the Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society. For survey development, we identified key domains, including types of drug shortages, impact on the ability of anesthesia practitioners to provide general anesthesia care, and impact on patient outcomes. We undertook assessments of face validity, clinical sensibility, and content validity. Respondents were surveyed from January-April 2012.

Results

Completed valid questionnaires were submitted by 1,187 respondents (61.4%), and 779 (65.7%) of respondents described a shortage of one or more anesthesia or critical care drugs. Changes in anesthesia practice resulting from drug shortages were common; 586 (49%) respondents thought they had given an inferior anesthetic, and 361 (30%) reported administering medications with which they were unfamiliar. Respondents also reported that drug shortages were, at times, responsible for changes in the conduct of patient care, with 28 (2.4%) noting cancellation or postponement of surgery and 92 (7.8%) witnessing a drug error. One hundred sixty-five (13.9%) respondents regarded drug shortages as having prolonged recovery from anesthesia, and 124 (10.5%) viewed drug shortages as resulting in an increased number of postoperative complications, such as postoperative nausea and vomiting.

Interpretation

Drug shortages are common in anesthetic practice in Canada. This state of affairs may have a negative effect on how anesthesiologists practice anesthesia and may be associated with adverse patient outcomes.     

颈前路椎间盘切除椎间融合器融合术加颈后路单开门术治疗脊髓型颈椎病

[目的]探讨颈椎前路椎间盘切除椎间融合器融合术加颈椎后路单开门椎管扩大成形术治疗脊髓型颈椎病在临床上的应用价值。[方法]应用Cervical Cage行颈椎前路椎间盘切除椎间融合术，同时，颈椎后路行单开门椎管扩大成形术11例，平均随访6个月。按40分法和JOA评分对手术前后脊髓功能进行评分，并测量颈椎术前术后前柱高度及椎管宽度和进行相关性分析．[结果]颈椎前路椎间盘切除椎间融合器融合术加颈椎后路单开门椎管扩大成形术，明显改善脊髓型颈椎病的脊髓功能。40分法平均37分，改善率83％；JOA评分16．5分，改善率91％；前柱高度平均增加1．28mm；椎管宽度平均增加2．22mm。[结论]颈椎前路椎间盘切除椎间融合器融合术加颈椎后路单开门椎管扩大成形术，有效恢复了颈椎前柱高度、增加椎管宽度，明显改善了脊髓型颈椎病的脊髓功能。     

Endoscopy services and training: a national survey of general surgeons

Background

Delivering high-quality endoscopy services depends largely on the competence of endoscopists. General surgery residency training in endoscopy and the associated quality of endoscopy services being delivered by general surgeons have been the subject of considerable controversy. In conjunction with the Canadian Association of General Surgeons (CAGS) executive board, we formulated a survey to evaluate the general state of endoscopy practice and training among general surgeons in Canada.

Methods

The study was designed as a cross-sectional survey. General surgeons who are members of CAGS were selected to participate in the study and were emailed a link to the online questionnaire regarding the importance of endoscopy. They were asked to compare their training to resident training today.

Results

Sixty-nine surveys were completed. The majority of general surgeons (95.7%) indicated that endoscopy was an important skill to possess, and more than 85.5% used endoscopy in their own practices. However, nearly half (46.4%) felt that general surgery endoscopy training in Canada is currently inadequate to produce competent endoscopists. The main qualitative themes emerging from the survey were the inadequacy of current postgraduate endoscopy training (37.5%) and the absence of standardization in training (25.0%).

Conclusion

Endoscopy is considered integral to academic and community general surgeons’ practices; however, the adequacy of training seems to be questioned. Postgraduate training in endoscopy needs to be formalized and standardized, with a greater emphasis placed on teaching endoscopy.     

Use of acrylic in anterior cervical discectomy: technical note

Acrylic was inserted into the intervertebral space after anterior cervical discectomy in five patients. The application of the acrylic was simple and quick to perform and atraumatic to the patient. The intervertebral space was preserved satisfactorily and consistently in all five patients. With this technique, the complications associated with bone grafts can be avoided.     

Management of anterior sternoclavicular dislocation: a survey of orthopaedic surgeons

Acute and chronic symptomatic anterior sternoclavicular (SC) dislocations are rare; various treatment options have been described. With the purpose of surveying current practices and opinions concerning treatment of these lesions, we sent a questionnaire to members of a general orthopaedic society, a national shoulder society and an international shoulder society. Closed reduction was attempted by 52% of the respondents, but > 80% of the surgeons stated that the reduction was not maintained in more than half of the dislocations. The procedure preferred by the respondents--explicitly by members of the international shoulder society--to deal with chronic symptomatic anterior SC dislocation, is reconstruction of the ligaments. Members of the international shoulder society are more likely to choose operative treatment for chronic symptomatic anterior SC dislocations.     

颈前路零切迹减压融合术对邻近节段瞬时旋转中心及活动度的影响研究

目的：探讨颈前路零切迹减压融合术对邻近节段瞬时旋转中心（instantaneous center of ro?tation, ICR）及活动度（range of motion, ROM）的影响。方法对2011年10月至2014年12月的122例采用颈前路零切迹自锁式椎间融合器行颈前路减压融合术（anterior cervical decompression and fusion, ACDF）的患者进行回顾性分析。收集患者术前及末次随访时的过伸、过屈位X线片,测量邻近节段的ICR、ROM以及颈椎整体ROM。采用疼痛视觉模拟量表（visual analogue scale, VAS）评分、日本骨科协会（Japanese Orthopaedic Association, JOA）评估治疗分数、颈椎功能障碍指数（neck disability index, NDI)评价治疗效果。结果随访3~21个月,平均6个月。无论是融合上方还是下方相邻节段的ICR,其术前与末次随访时的数值差异均无统计学意义（均P＞0.05）;对于颈椎整体和屈、伸位ROM,其术前与末次随访时的数值差异均有统计学意义（均P＜0.05）,但其上下方相邻节段手术前后的ROM比较,差异均无统计学意义（均P＞0.05）;本组手术前后的VAS评分、JOA评分及NDI的比较,差异均有统计学意义（均P＜0.05）。结论采用颈前路零切迹减压融合术治疗颈椎病效果良好,对邻近节段的ICR和ROM未造成明显的影响。     

Perceived sleepiness in Canadian anesthesia residents: a national survey

Purpose

To compare the self-perceived sleepiness of Canadian anesthesia residents providing modified on-call duties (12–16 h) vs. traditional on-call duties (24 h).

Methods

A 25-item online survey was distributed to all Canadian anesthesia residents who, at that time, were on anesthesia rotations. The survey assessed resident demographics, perceived work patterns, and sleepiness, as well as their opinions on resident work hour reform. Self-perceived sleepiness was quantified using the validated Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS).

Results

Three hundred eight of 400 (77%) eligible Canadian anesthesia residents completed the survey. Forty-three percent of residents who worked traditional on-call (duration 24.1 ± 0.5 h) shifts and 48% of residents who worked modified on-call (duration 15.5 ± 1.8 h) shifts met ESS criteria for excessive daytime sleepiness. Overall mean ESS scores did not differ significantly between the traditional (9.1 ± 4.9) and the modified call groups (9.5 ± 4.8). Residents with an on-call frequency of ≥1:4 days or those who slept ≤2 h while on call perceived themselves as significantly more sleepy (P = 0.045 and P = 0.008, respectively). Six percent of residents admitted to taking “something other than caffeine” to stay awake on call.

Conclusion

Many anesthesia residents do exhibit excessive daytime sleepiness, with a similar incidence for those working within either modified or traditional call systems. Our study suggests that sleepiness may be reduced by scheduling on-call duties no more frequently than one in every five nights and by ensuring that residents sleep more than 2 h while on call.     

Management of lumbar spinal stenosis: a survey among Dutch spine surgeons

Background

Various surgical and non-surgical treatments for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) are widely adopted in clinical practice, but high quality randomised controlled trials to support these are often lacking, especially in terms of their relative benefit and risk compared with other treatment options. Therefore, an evaluation of agreement among clinicians regarding the indications and the choice for particular treatments seems appropriate.

Methods

One hundred and six Dutch neurosurgeons and orthopaedic spine surgeons completed a questionnaire, which evaluated treatment options for LSS and expectations regarding the effectiveness of surgical and non-surgical treatments.

Results

Responders accounted for 6,971 decompression operations and 831 spinal fusion procedures for LSS annually. Typical neurogenic claudication, severe pain/disability, and a pronounced constriction of the spinal canal were considered the most important indications for surgical treatment by the majority of responders. Non-surgical treatment was generally regarded as ineffective and believed to be less effective than surgical treatment. Interlaminar decompression was the preferred technique by 68 % of neurosurgeons and 52 % orthopaedic surgeons for the treatment of LSS. Concomitant fusion was applied in 12 % of all surgery for LSS. Most surgeons considered spondylolisthesis as an indication and spinal instability as a definite indication for additional fusion.

Conclusions

The current survey demonstrates a wide variety of preferred treatments of symptomatic LSS by Dutch spine surgeons. To minimise variety, national and international protocols based on high-quality randomised controlled trials and systematic reviews are necessary to give surgeons more tools to support everyday decision-making.     

Smart flap of sternocleidomastoid muscle in anterior cervical spine surgery: Surgical anatomical dissection technique

The use of sternocleidomastoid muscle flap has firstly been described in 1909. In spine surgery, it is usually reserved in the cases of revision after anterior cervical spine procedures. The aim of this article is to introduce its usage as prophylactic measure in cases at high risk of iatrogenic fistula formation. The procedure consists of three main steps: sternocleidomastoid isolation, flap design and harvesting, and flap fixation. The use of a surgical anchor allows a better adherence to the plate preventing hematoma formation. The use of SCM smart flap in primary anterior cervical spine surgery as a prophylactic method could be considered a safe and feasible procedure in patients with a high risk of iatrogenic fistulas.     

Surgical results in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion using a countersunk interlocking autogenous iliac bone graft.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the surgical results of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion using a countersunk interlocking autogenous iliac bone graft. Two hundred thirty-two patients were followed for an average of 6.8 years. All patients suffered neck and arm pain. Two hundred twenty patients received conservative treatment for at least six months. Overall results were satisfactory in 202 patients (87%) and unsatisfactory in 30 patients (13%). The pseudoarthrosis rate was 6.5% which is significantly lower than previous reports. The premise of this technique is that the interlocking graft prevents migration, promotes fusion by providing immobilization, and restores the height of the interspace. Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, using a countersunk interlocking autogenous iliac bone graft, is a satisfactory surgical procedure in which successful pain relief is to be expected.     

A Canadian national survey: understanding the differences in management of cryptorchidism among pediatric surgeons and pediatric urologists

BackgroundThis investigation aims to assess the variability in practice patterns regarding management of children with cryptorchidism (UDT) among pediatric urologists (U) and pediatric surgeons (S) practicing in Canada.MethodsAll active members of Pediatric Urologists of Canada (PUC) and Canadian Association of Pediatric Surgery (CAPS) were invited to participate in an online multiple-choice type questionnaire with clinical scenarios in management of UDT. Responses were compared between U and S using Fisher's exact test.ResultsThe response rates were 74% and 79% among CAPS members (54/73) and PUC members (27/34) respectively. CAPS members were more likely to order diagnostic ultrasounds prior to surgery (44.4% vs 18.5%, p = 0.027). For palpable testis, most (80%) CAPS members favored the classic inguinal approach, while most PUC members did not demonstrate a clear preference, and were flexible with their approach depending on the position of the palpated testes (55%; p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in preferred approach to unilateral or bilateral nonpalpable testis. However, for both palpable and nonpalpable bilateral UDT, more CAPS members preferred metachronous correction, compared to PUC members who opted to approach them synchronously (p = 0.008, 0.002, respectively).ConclusionPreferences with regard to use of diagnostic tools such as US, surgical approach for palpable testes and bilateral UDTs were not consistent between the two surgical specialties who perform orchidopexy across Canada. Both groups were compliant with guideline recommendations, with the exception of utilizing preoperative ultrasounds, which is uniformly not recommended by the most recent guidelines.Level of evidenceThis is a level II evidence study.