Lumbar facet anatomy changes in spondylolysis: a comparative skeletal study

Opinions differ as to the exact mechanism responsible for spondylolysis (SP) and whether individuals with specific morphological characteristics of the lumbar vertebral neural arch are predisposed to SP. The aim of our study was to reveal the association between SP and the architecture of lumbar articular facets and the inter-facet region. Methods: Using a Microscribe three-dimensional apparatus (Immersion Co., San Jose, CA, USA), length, width and depth of all articular facets and all inter-facet distances in the lumbar spine (L1–L5) were measured. From the Hamann-Todd Human Osteological Collection (Cleveland Museum of Natural History, OH, USA) 120 normal male skeletons with lumbar spines in the control group and 115 with bilateral SP at L5 were selected. Analysis of variance was employed to examine the differences between spondylolytic and normal spines. Results: Three profound differences between SP and the norm appeared: (1) in individuals with SP, the size and shape of L4’s neural arch had significantly greater inter-facet widths, significantly shorter inter-facet heights and significantly shorter and narrower articular facets; (2) only in the L4 vertebra in individuals with SP was the inferior inter-facet width greater in size than the superior inter-facet width of the vertebra below (L5) (38.7 mm versus 40 mm); (3) in all lumbar vertebrae, the right inferior articular facets in individuals with SP were flatter compared to the control group. Conclusions: Individuals with L4 “SP” characteristics are at a greater risk of developing fatigue fractures in the form of spondylolysis at L5.     

The laterally extended medial hemisoleus flap for reconstruction of a tibial wound in the distal third of the leg

A soleus flap as a local reconstructive option for soft-tissue coverage of a tibial wound in the distal third of the leg has never been well recognized. In a 2-year period, seven patients underwent reconstruction of a less extensive tibial wound (4 × 3 to 10 × 4 cm) in the distal third of the leg after orthopedic trauma with the laterally extended medial hemisoleus flap. The flap was elevated with emphasis on the preservation of the most distal perforators from the posterior tibial vessels to the flap as possible while allowing adequate rotation of the flap to cover the exposed tibia and/or hardware and on the possible preservation of foot planter flexion by reconstruction of the proximal Achilles’ tendon. In this series, there was no total or partial flap loss. All patients healed their tibial wounds primarily with reliable soft-tissue coverage, evidenced fracture healing, and good cosmetic outcome during follow-up. Thus, the laterally extended medial hemisoleus flap described by the author can be a reliable option for soft-tissue coverage of a less extensive tibial wound in the distal third of the leg. It offers a more cost-effective approach for managing this unique problem and can be performed by most reconstructive surgeons without microsurgical expertise.     

National survey on orthotopic neobladder

Objective A national survey was conducted among the urologists in India to find the preference for urinary diversion after radical cystectomy for muscle invasive carcinoma of the urinary bladder, percentage of neobladder reconstruction, segment of the bowel used, complication rate, need for self-intermittent catherisation on follow up and the survival. Material and methods A detailed questionnaire was mailed to all members of the urological society of India (USI) to find out their preference for urinary diversion following radical cystectomy for muscle invasive carcinoma urinary bladder. For the neobladder reconstruction, they were asked for the type of bowel segment used, complication rate, reoperation rate, need for intermittent clean catheterisation on follow up and 5-year survival. Results A total of 24 institutions responded to the mailed questionnaire. Of all institutions 12 (50%) did not prefer the orthotopic neobladder (ONB) reconstruction. Among the institutions carrying out neobladder reconstruction, majority perform ileal conduit in more than 50% of the cases. Ileum (66.66%) or ileocaecal (16.66%) segment was the choice of bowel segment for most of the urologists. Only three institutions used sigmoid colon. The complications encountered were wound infection (5–25%), burst abdomen (5%), urinary fistulas (3–25%), faecal fistulas (2–5%), bladder neck stenosis (5–15%) and ureterointestinal anastomosis stenosis (5–25%). The reoperation rate was 5–15% with a perioperative mortality of 0.5–3%. Around 10–100% (average 50%) of the patients require intermittent clean catherisation. Only seven institutions could provide 5-year survival rate data. Of these three institutions reported more than 50% and four institutes less than 50% 5-year survival. Conclusion Ileal conduit still remains the urinary diversion of choice following radical cystectomy for muscle invasive carcinoma of the bladder among most of the urologists in India. Orthotopic neobladder reconstruction is practiced only in selected centres. Wound infection, urinary leak and obstruction at ureterointestinal anastomosis are the main complications. Clean intermittent cathaterisation is required at an average of 50% of the patients to ensure complete emptying of the neobladder.     

Long-Term Effects of Extrinsic Denervation on VIP and Substance P Innervation in Circular Muscle of Rat Jejunum

Intestinal denervation contributes to enteric motor dysfunction after small bowel transplantation (SBT). Our aim was to determine long-term effects of extrinsic denervation on function of nonadrenergic, noncholinergic innervation with substance P and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). Contractile activity of jejunal circular muscle strips from six age-matched, naive control rats (NC) and eight rats 1 year after syngeneic SBT was studied in tissue chambers. Spontaneous contractile activity did not differ between groups. Exogenous VIP inhibited contractile activity dose-dependently to a comparable degree in both groups. The VIP antagonist ([d-p-Cl-Phe⁶,Leu¹⁷]-VIP) and the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor l-N^G-nitro-arginine did not affect VIP-induced inhibition but increased contractile activity during electrical field stimulation (EFS) in both groups. Exogenous substance P increased contractile activity dose-dependently, greater in NC than SBT. The substance P antagonist ([d-Pro²,d-Trp^7,9]-substance P) inhibited effects of exogenous substance P and decreased the excitatory EFS response. Immunohistofluorescence showed tyrosine hydroxylase staining after SBT indicating sympathetic reinnervation. In jejunal circular muscle after chronic denervation, response to exogenous substance P, but not VIP, is decreased, whereas endogenous release of both neurotransmitters is preserved. Alterations in balance of excitatory and inhibitory pathways occur despite extrinsic reinnervation and might contribute to enteric motor dysfunction after SBT. Parts of this work were presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract in Washington, DC, on May 21, 2007 and published in abstract form in Gastroenterology 2007;132:A890.     

A comparison between fibula and iliac crest in mandibular reconstruction

Nowadays the vascularized free fibula flap and the free iliac crest flap are the methods most frequently used to reconstruct the mandible. This is also the case in our clinic. A retrospective nonrandomized study was performed to compare both flaps. The vascularized fibula free flap and the iliac crest free flap were compared in terms of logistics, flap failure, revisionary surgery, donor site morbidity, and recipient site morbidity. No significant differences in flap failure and revision surgery were found between the fibula group and the iliac crest group. Recipient site and donor site complications (major and minor) were significantly less in the fibula group compared to the iliac crest group. In mandibular reconstruction, the free vascularized fibula flap appears to be superior to the free vascularized iliac crest flap in terms of both recipient site and donor site morbidity.     

Are drains required following a routine primary total joint arthroplasty?

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the benefits of suction drainage following primary total joint arthroplasty. We reviewed primary total hip and knee replacements separately and together in 126 consecutive patients. There were 63 patients each in the drainage and no drainage groups. Sex distribution and anticoagulant use were similar in the two groups. All patients underwent the same operative technique and method of closure. The mean postoperative fall in haemoglobin was 3.2 and 3.3 gm/dl in the drainage and no drainage groups respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups with regard to blood transfusion requirements, rehabilitation time, postoperative complications such as hypotension and wound infections (p>0.05). The average rehabilitation time in both groups was 8–9 days. The routine use of a suction drain is unnecessary after an uncomplicated total joint arthroplasty.

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Résumé Le sujet de cette étude était d’évaluer les bénéfices du drainage aspiratif après arthroplastie primaire. Nous avons revus 126 cas consécutifs d’arthroplastie totale de la hanche et du genou. Il y avait 63 patients dans chacun des groupes, drainés ou non drainés. La technique opératoire était la même chez tous les patients et le genre ainsi que le traitement anti-coagulant étaient similaires dans les deux groupes. La chute de l’hémoglobine était respectivement de 3,2 et 3,3 g/dl dans les groupes drainés et non drainés. Il n’y avait pas de différence significative entre les deux groupes pour la nécessité de transfusion, le temps de récupération, et les complications post-opératoires (p>0,05). Le temps moyen de récupération dans les deux groupes était de 8–9 jours. Le drainage aspiratif n’est pas nécessaire après une arthroplastie totale non compliquée.

     

Curative Laparoscopic Resection for Pancreatic Neoplasms: A Critical Analysis from a Single Institution

Laparoscopic pancreatic surgery (LPS) has seen significant development but much of the knowledge refers to small and benign pancreatic tumors. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and long-term outcome of the laparoscopic approach in patients with benign, premalignant, and overt malignant lesions of the pancreas. This study, currently, is the largest single center experience worldwide. One hundred twenty-three consecutive patients underwent laparoscopic pancreatic surgery from April 1998 to April 2007, 20 patients with cysts or pseudocysts for acute and chronic pancreatitis, laparoscopic pancreatic drainage was performed, and were excluded from the analysis. The 103 patients were divided based on preoperative diagnosis: group I, inflammatory tumors for chronic pancreatitis (eight patients); group II, cystic pancreatic neoplasms (29 patients); group III, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (10 patients); group IV, neuroendocrine pancreatic tumors (NETs) (43 patients); and group V ductal adenocarcinoma (13 patients). The median tumor size was 5.3 cm. Pathologic data include R ₀ or R ₁ resection (transection margins on the specimen were inked). Perioperative data, postoperative complications, and resection modalities were compared using statistical analysis. Long-term outcomes were analysed by tumor recurrence and patient survival. The overall conversion rate was 7%. Laparoscopic distal pancreatic resection was performed in 82 patients (79.6%). Laparoscopic spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy (Lap SPDP) was performed in 52 patients (63.7%), but with splenic vessels preservation in 22% and without splenic vessels preservation in 41.5%. Laparoscopic en-bloc splenopancreatectomy (Lap SxDP) was performed in 30 patients (36.6%) and laparoscopic enucleation (Lap En) in 20 patients (19.4%). There was no mortality. The overall complication rate was 25.2, 16.7, and 40% after Lap SPDP, Lap SxDP, and Lap En, respectively. The overall morbidity rate was significantly higher (p > 0.05) in the group of Lap SPDP without splenic vessels preservation comparing with Lap SPDP with splenic vessels preservation because of the occurrence of splenic complications (20.6%). The overall pancreatic fistulas was 7.7, 10, and 35% after Lap SPDP, Lap SxDP, and Lap En, respectively; the severity of fistula was significantly higher in the Lap En group (p > 0.05). The mean hospital stay was within 1 week in all groups, except in the group of ductal adenocarcinoma, which is 8 days. In this series, 27 patients (26.2%) had malignant disease. R ₀ resection was achieved in 90% of ductal adenocarcinoma and 100% for other malignant tumors. The median survival for ductal adenocarcinoma patients was 14 months. This series demonstrates that LPS is feasible and safe in benign-appearing and malignant lesions of the pancreas.     

Extremity Soft Tissue Sarcoma: Adding to the Prognostic Meaning of Local Failure

Background We explored the prognostic meaning of local relapse and surgical margins in adult soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities. Methods Out of a series of 1017 patients with extremity soft tissue sarcoma treated over 20 years, we picked a group of 238 patients operated on at our institution for their first local relapse: 88 after their primary operation performed at the same center and 150 elsewhere. At operation for relapse, margins were microscopically negative in 77% and 75% of patients, respectively. Median follow-up was 107 months. Results The 10-year mortality rate was 22% in the absence of local relapse, whereas in locally relapsing patients it was 54% and 43%, respectively, for patients first operated on at our institute and for those who were not. The hazard ratio of positive versus negative surgical margins was 1.7 for cause-specific death and 2.1 for distant metastases in patients first operated on at our institute, as opposed to 1.2 and 1.3 for the others. Conclusions Local relapse was an unfavorable prognostic factor. In the face of a consistent surgical policy for local relapse in a single-institution setting, patients relapsing after the first operation performed at our institution received rescue treatment less frequently than those previously operated on outside a referral center. This is likely due to an inherently higher tumor aggressiveness. In the presence of such a higher aggressiveness, the adequacy of surgical margins at operation for first relapse seemed more critical prognostically. This may have clinical and speculative implications. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, June 2–6, 2006, Atlanta, GA (USA) (abstract 9565).     

Treatment Failure After Percutaneous Radiofrequency Ablation for Nonsurgical Candidates With Pulmonary Metastases From Colorectal Carcinoma

Background This study critically evaluated the local and overall treatment failure rates after percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of pulmonary metastases from colorectal carcinoma. Methods Fifty-five nonsurgical candidates underwent RFA of colorectal pulmonary metastases. The primary end points of this study were local progression-free survival (PFS) and overall PFS. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify significant prognostic parameters for local and overall PFS. Results The local recurrence rate was 38%. For local PFS, univariate analysis demonstrated that the largest size of lung metastasis, the location of lung metastases, the post-RFA carcinoembryonic antigen level at 1 month, and the post-RFA carcinoembryonic antigen level at 3 months were significant prognostic indicators. In multivariate analysis, a largest size of lung metastasis of >3 cm and a post-RFA carcinoembryonic antigen level of >5 ng/mL at 1 month were independently associated with a reduced local PFS. The overall recurrence rate was 66%. For overall PFS, univariate analysis demonstrated that sex and the largest size of lung metastasis were significant prognostic indicators. In multivariate analysis, a largest size of lung metastasis of >3 cm was independently associated with a reduced overall PFS. Conclusions RFA of colorectal pulmonary metastases may have a useful role in local disease control for nonsurgical candidates, but its efficacy in patients with a lung metastasis of >3 cm is limited.     

New parameter of flexion after posterior stabilized total knee arthroplasty: posterior condylar offset ratio on X-ray photographs

In cruciate-retaining (CR) type TKA, the increase in posterior condylar offset (PCO) is considered to be correlated to flexion angle acquired postoperatively according to the article reported by Bellemans (J Bone Joint Surg Br 84:50–53, 2002). However, the significance of PCO seems to differ according to the size of joints. We therefore have defined a new parameter of posterior condylar offset ratio (PCOR) on the lateral view of plain X-ray photographs and studied the relationship between PCOR and postoperative flexion status in posterior-stabilized (PS) type TKA. Flexion status includes two parameters, such as postoperative flexion angle (FA) and flexion achievement rate (AR). The subjects of this study were 160 knees (16 males and 144 females, average 75 years.) with PS type TKA for osteoarthritic knees between 1999 and 2003 at our institution, more than at least 1 year postoperative follow-up. In the study of FA, patients with FA of less than 100° were divided into Group L (n = 28), patients with FA of 130° and greater were divided into Group H (n = 58). In the study of AR, patients with AR of less than 100% were divided into Group P (n = 46), patients with AR of 120% and greater were divided into Group G (n = 22). PCOR was statistically compared in each group, respectively. In FA, PCOR in Group L (0.385) was significantly lower (P = 0.027) than that in Group H (0.428). In AR, PCOR in Group P (0.376) was significantly lower (P = 0.0018) than that in Group G (0.456). We have concluded, though there are many factors influencing the range of movement after TKA, our newly defined PCOR could possibly serve as a parameter of postoperative flexion status of PS type TKA on plain X-ray photographs. No benefits or funds were received in support of the study.