Two-stage posterior spinal fusion for early-onset scoliosis: Two case reports

Application of platelet-rich plasma in spinal surgery

With the aging of the population and changes in lifestyle, the incidence of spine-related diseases is increasing, which has become a major global public health problem; this results in a huge economic burden on the family and society. Spinal diseases and complications can lead to loss of motor, sensory, and autonomic functions. Therefore, it is necessary to identify effective treatment strategies. Currently, the treatment of spine-related diseases includes conservative, surgical, and minimally invasive interventional therapies. However, these treatment methods have several drawbacks such as drug tolerance and dependence, adjacent spondylosis, secondary surgery, infection, nerve injury, dural rupture, nonunion, and pseudoarthrosis. Further, it is more challenging to promote the regeneration of the interstitial disc and restore its biomechanical properties. Therefore, clinicians urgently need to identify methods that can limit disease progression or cure diseases at the etiological level. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), a platelet-rich form of plasma extracted from venous blood, is a blood-derived product. Alpha granules contain a large number of cytokines, such as platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), epidermal growth factor, platelet factor 4 (PF-4), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). These growth factors allow stem cell proliferation and angiogenesis, promote bone regeneration, improve the local microenvironment, and enhance tissue regeneration capacity and functional recovery. This review describes the application of PRP in the treatment of spine-related diseases and discusses the clinical application of PRP in spinal surgery.

The Potential Role of Dysregulated miRNAs in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis and 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome

Background: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), affecting 2-4% of adolescents, is a multifactorial spinal disease. Interactions between genetic and environmental factors can influence disease onset through epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone modifications and miRNA expression. Recent evidence reported that, among all clinical features in individuals with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (DS), scoliosis can occur with a higher incidence than in the general population. Methods: A PubMed and Ovid Medline search was performed for idiopathic scoliosis in the setting of 22q11.2DS and miRNA according to PRISMA guidelines. Results: Four papers, accounting for 2841 individuals, reported clinical data about scoliosis in individuals with 22q11.2DS, showing that approximately 35.1% of the individuals with 22q11.2DS developed scoliosis. Conclusions: 22q11.2DS could be used as a model for the study of AIS. The DGCR8 gene seems to be essential for microRNA biogenesis, which is why we propose that a possible common pathological mechanism between scoliosis and 22q11.2DS could be the dysregulation of microRNA expression. In the current study, we identified two miRNAs that were altered in both 22q11.2DS and AIS, miR-93 and miR-1306, thus, corroborating the hypothesis that the two diseases share common molecular alterations.

Two-staged posterior osteotomy surgery in complex and rigid congenital scoliosis in younger than 10 years old children

Background

Congenital scoliosis caused by failure of multiply vertebral segmentation with concave fused rib or unsegmented bar combined with contralateralhemivertebra is usually rigid and produces enormous asymmetric growth. Fusionless techniques have less advantage and come with some complications. Paucity of data was reported for children with complex congenital scoliosis using two-staged osteotomy surgery.

Methods

From 2006 to 2016, 11 patients less than 10 years old undergoing two staged osteotomy surgery for complex rigid congenital scoliosis were retrospectively reviewed. The analysis included age at initial surgery, second surgery and at the latest follow-up, and complications. Changes in coronal major curve, thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lodorsis, apex vertebra translation, T1-T12 length, T1-S1 length, trunk shift, and SVAwere included in radiological evaluation.

Results

In all, the mean follow-up was 72.5 ± 23.8 (42 to 112) months. The mean flexibility of the spine was 17.4 and 17.8 % before two surgeries. The mean age at the initial surgery was 6.6 ± 2.6 (2.5–10) years. The mean fusion level was 4.6 ± 1.3 (2 to 6) segments. The mean scoliosis improved from 67.4° to 23.7° after initial surgery and was 17.4° at the latest follow-up. The average increase of T1-S1 length was 0.92 cm per year. No patients had neurological complications.

Conclusions

Two-staged osteotomy surgery including hemivertebrae resection or Y-shaped osteotomy can achieve good radiological and clinical outcomes without severe complications. This procedure can be an option of treatment for complex congenital scoliosis.