Pedicle subtraction osteotomy in the thoracic spine and thoracolumbar junction: a retrospective series of 28 cases

Purpose

Pedicle subtraction osteotomy is a well-described surgical technique for treatment of kyphotic deformity in the spine. It is not widely used for treatment of thoracic kyphosis. We present the first documented series of 28 patients who underwent this procedure in 3 international centers. These patients presented with severe deformity with a wide range of aetiologies.

Indications

Kyphosis larger than 70 degrees, which is demonstrably rigid based on dynamic imaging.

Materials and methods

28 patients underwent surgery following pre-op neurological and radiographic assessment to fully assess the deformity. A triangular osteotomy was carried out using intraoperative navigation techniques. The patients were assessed post-operatively again with clinical and radiographic parameters at regular follow-up.

Results

The mean ODI score after surgery was 24.7 (16–42) while the pre-op was 53.4 (38–76). Mean thoracic kyphosis was improved from 64.2° (±20.1°) to 41.1° (±17.4°) resulting in a mean sagittal correction of 23.1°. Mean segmental correction at the PSO for all 28 cases was 17.8° (±8.1°). Stratified by region we found different values for the PSO correction: between T1 and T5 (6 cases) it was 17.5° (±5.4°) and between T6 and T9 (4 cases) 18.2° (±4.7°) and between T10 and L1 (18 cases) 26.2° (±5.2°). FBI index was 22.3° pre-op and improved to 7.8° post-op. Calculations were performed with Microsoft excel (2011 Microsoft, Redmond, WA).

Conclusions

Global sagittal balance was statistically improved in this series as demonstrated by FBI and C7 SVA correction.

     

Role of autophagy in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis

Neuroscience Bulletin - Autophagy plays an important role in maintaining the cellular homeostasis. One of its functions is to degrade unnecessary organelles and proteins for energy recycling or...     

同伴教育对2型糖尿病患者血糖控制的系统评价

目的系统评价同伴教育对2型糖尿病患者血糖控制的干预效果。方法通过检索PubMed、Embase、中国期刊全文数据库(CNKI)、万方数据库等资源,收集同伴教育对2型糖尿病患者血糖控制干预的随机对照试验,并进行文献质量评价和数据提取。对于糖化血红蛋白(HbA1c)的结局指标采用多时间点Meta分析,而对于餐前和餐后血糖则采用终末时间点Meta分析。结果最终纳入9篇文献,文献质量B级6篇,A级3篇。Meta分析结果显示,中等时间长度(13~26周)的同伴教育干预后,HbA1c低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05),长期同伴教育(26周以上)对HbA1c改善的作用尚未被证实;中等时间长度(13~26周)同伴教育干预后,餐前和餐后血糖低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(均P0.01)。结论同伴教育可以有效控制餐前和餐后血糖,中等时间长度(13~26周)的同伴教育项目对于HbA1c的改善有一定作用。     

Impact of intensified chemotherapy in metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) in clinical routine in Europe

Background

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is associated with poor prognosis. Gemcitabine is the standard chemotherapy for patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma (MPA). Randomized clinical trials evaluating intensified chemotherapies including FOLFIRINOX and nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine (NAB+GEM) have shown improvement in survival. Here, we have evaluated the efficacy of intensified chemotherapy versus gemcitabine monotherapy in real-life settings across Europe.