Treatment of lumbar canal stenosis in patients with compensated sagittal balance

Surgical management of isthmic spondylolisthesis: A comparative study of postoperative outcomes between ALIF and TLIF

INTRODUCTION

Circumferential fusion by the anterior (ALIF) or transforaminal (TLIF) approach combined with posterior instrumentation is currently used for the surgical treatment of low-grade isthmic spondylolisthesis. But few studies have compared the clinical and radiological outcomes of various interbody fusion techniques. The objective of this study was to compare the clinical and radiological results at 2 years postoperative of two fusion techniques-TLIF versus ALIF plus posterior instrumentation-for low-grade isthmic spondylolisthesis in adults.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was an observational multicenter study done at nine French healthcare facilities specialized in spine surgery. The inclusion criteria were minimum age of 18 years, grade 1-3 isthmic spondylolisthesis, ALIF+posterior fixation (ALIF+PS) or TLIF, minimum follow-up of 2 years. Clinical and radiological evaluations were done preoperatively and at 2 years of follow-up. A lumbar CT scan was done at 1 year postoperative to evaluate fusion.

RESULTS

The cohort consisted of 89 patients (50 women, 39 men) with a mean age of 47.7±12.3 (18-79) years. The patients in the ALIF groups (n=71) had a significantly longer hospital stay than those in the TLIF group (n=18): 5.7 days versus 4.6 days (p=.04). However, their medical leave from work was significantly shorter: 31.0 weeks versus 40.7 (p=.003). Lumbar pain VAS diminished faster in the ALIF groups, with a significantly larger drop than the TLIF group in the first 3 months postoperative. Only the increase in lumbar disc lordosis was larger in the ALIF group: 11.7°±12.0° versus 6.0°±11.7° (p=.036). There was a significant correlation between the increase in global lordosis and reduction in lumbar VAS at 2 years postoperative (ρ=-0.3295; p=.021).

CONCLUSION

ALIF+PS provides a faster relief of postoperative low back pain than TLIF but there are no significant clinical differences between techniques at 2 years of follow-up. Despite better restoration of disc lordosis in the ALIF+PS group, there was no difference in the restoration of global lordosis.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III; multicenter comparative study.

Long-Term Changes in Sagittal Balance After Microsurgical Decompression of Lumbar Spinal Canal Stenosis in Elderly Patients: A Follow-Up Study for 5-Years After Surgery

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study is to investigate long-term changes in spinal sagittal balance after microsurgical decompression in lumbar canal stenosis (LCS).

METHODS

Fifty-two patients who underwent microsurgical decompression for symptomatic single level L4/5 spinal canal stenosis at our hospital were included in the study. All patients had standing full spine radiographs taken preoperatively, 1 year postoperatively, and 5 years postoperatively. Spinal parameters including sagittal balance were measured from the obtained images. First, preoperative parameters were compared with 50 age-matched asymptomatic volunteers. Next, the parameters before and after surgery were compared to examine long-term changes.

RESULTS

Sagittal vertical axis (SVA) was significantly increased in the LCS cases compared to the volunteers (P = 0.03). Postoperative lumbar lordosis (LL) was significantly increased (P = 0.03). Postoperative mean SVA decreased but the difference was not significant (P = 0.12). Although there was no correlation between preoperative parameters and the Japanese Orthopedic Association score, postoperative pelvic incidence (PI)-LL and pelvic tilt changes correlated with changes in Japanese Orthopedic Association score (PI-LL; P = 0.0001, pelvic tilt; P = 0.04). However, after 5 years of surgery, LL decreased and PI-LL increased (LL; P = 0.08, PI-LL; P = 0.03). Sagittal balance began to deteriorate but was not significant (P = 0.31). At 5 years postoperatively, 18 of 52 patients (34.6%) were found to have L3/4 adjacent segment disease. Cases with adjacent segment disease showed significantly worse SVA and PI-LL (SVA; P = 0.01, PI-LL; P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

In LCS, lumbar kyphosis improves and sagittal balance tends to improve after microsurgical decompression. However, after 5 years, adjacent intervertebral degeneration occurs more frequently and sagittal balance begins to deteriorate in about one third of cases.

Fusion and clinical outcomes of lumbar interbody fusion for low-grade isthmic spondylolisthesis

INTRODUCTION

Low-grade isthmic spondylolisthesis (ISPL) is generally treated by circumferential fusion with interbody graft, although there is no consensus on technique.

HYPOTHESIS

The various interbody fusion strategies provide satisfactory fusion rates and clinical results.

METHODS

A multicenter retrospective study analyzed lumbar interbody fusion for low-grade ISPL performed between March 2016 and March 2019. Techniques comprised: circumferential fusion on a posterior or a transforaminal approach (PLIF, TLIF: n=57), combined anterior (ALIF)+posterolateral fusion (ALIF+PLF: n=60), and ALIF+percutaneous posterior fixation (ALIF+PPF: n=55). Function was assessed on a lumbar and a radicular visual analog scale (AVS-L, VAS-R), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Short Form 12 (SF12).

RESULTS

Among the 129 patients, 85.3% showed fusion (Lenke 1 or 2), with no significant differences between the ALIF-PLF or ALIF-PPF groups and the PLIF or TLIF groups (p=0.3). Likewise, there was no difference in fusion rates between the ALIF-PPF and ALIF-PLF subgroups (p=0.28). VAS-L (p<0.001) and VAS-R (p<0.0001), ODI (p<0.001) and SF12 physical (PCS) (p<0.01) and mental component sores (MCS) (p<0.001) all showed significant improvement at 12months. Combined approaches provided greater clinical efficacy than TLIF or PLIF for lumbar (p<0.0001) and radicular pain (p<0.05), ODI (p<0.0001) and SF12 PCS (p<0.01). At 12months, there was no clinical difference between the ALIF-PPF and ALIF-PLF subgroups. However, patents with interbody non-union (Lenke 3 or 4) had lower SF12 PCS scores (p<0.004) and VAS-L ratings (p<0.001) than Lenke 1-2 patients.

CONCLUSION

Low-grade ISPL treated by circumferential arthrodesis and interbody graft showed 85.3% consolidation at 2years, with equivalent outcomes between anterior and posterior techniques. Successful fusion was associated with better clinical results.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.

Pre- and postoperative MRI analysis of central decompression in MIS fusion with lumbar stenosis

OBJECTIVES

Mini-invasive approaches have grown substantially these last decades in spinal surgery, notably for lumbar decompressions and fusion, with advantages over open approaches in terms of morbidity reduction. However, to our knowledge, no study has measured on MRI the amount of central decompression obtained by MIS approach. The goal of this study was to precisely measure the decompression of central stenosis by unilateral MIS approaches.

METHODS

The files of 42 patients that had a MIS lumbar fusion with central decompression for central stenosis were reviewed. All patients had a pre- and postoperative MRI that allowed on T2 axial images to classify the central stenosis, according to Schizas' classification, and measure the dural sac cross-sectional area (DSCA) and the anteroposterior diameter (DAP). The statistical analysis was made with paired t-test.

RESULTS

Fifty-six levels were analyzed, mostly L4L5 (58%). The mean preoperative DSCA was 70.53mm² and the mean postoperative DSCA was 172.2mm². The mean preoperative DAP was 6.15mm and postoperative was 10.68mm. Preoperatively, the levels analyzed were rated B, C or D according to Schizas for 53 out of 56 levels and A1-4 for 51 out of 56 levels in postoperative. All the results were statistically significant (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Decompression, assessed by MRI, seems to be equivalent by MIS approach to open laminarthrectomy. MIS approaches have been studied clinically in these indications with very satisfying results. As a conclusion, MIS approaches seems to be a relevant and efficient option in the treatment of lumbar degenerative stenosis.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV, retrospective study.

Another perspective on lumber spinal stenosis treatment: Should exercise be added to pre-surgical treatment?

Background/Aim: Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a disease that affects the quality of life of elderly individuals. Most patients undergoing surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis try physical therapy before opting to undergo surgery. The effect of pre-surgical exercise treatment is unclear. This study aimed to examine the effect of pre-surgical exercise treatment on functionality, quality of life, and balance. Methods: Patients between the ages of 40 and 70 who were scheduled for surgery based on a diagnosis of LSS were included in this cross-sectional study. The patients were randomly divided into two groups for which exercise therapy was added to the first group before the surgery, and the control group followed in the normal process. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventory (BDI and BAI, respectively), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), static and dynamic balance measurements holding hands on and off on the balance device (SBHON, DBHON, DBHOFF) and the SF-36 quality of life scale tests were administered pre-operatively and eight weeks post-operatively, and the results were compared between the two groups that did and did not exercise before surgery. Results: Post-operative SBHON values were found to be significantly lower in the exercise group compared to the other group (P < 0.001). While no differences between pre- and post-operative BBS, DBHON, and DBHOFF values in the non-exercising group were detected, a favorable significant difference in the exercising group was found (all P < 0.001). Conclusion: The addition of pre-surgical exercise therapy to patients can lead to improvements in the success of surgery and contribute to the functionality of patients with LSS diagnosis.