Biomarkers are biological characteristics that can be used to indicate health or disease. This paper reviews studies on biomarkers of low back pain (LBP) in human subjects. LBP is the leading cause ...of disability, caused by various spine‐related disorders, including intervertebral disc degeneration, disc herniation, spinal stenosis, and facet arthritis. The focus of these studies is inflammatory mediators, because inflammation contributes to the pathogenesis of disc degeneration and associated pain mechanisms. Increasingly, studies suggest that the presence of inflammatory mediators can be measured systemically in the blood. These biomarkers may serve as novel tools for directing patient care. Currently, patient response to treatment is unpredictable with a significant rate of recurrence, and, while surgical treatments may provide anatomical correction and pain relief, they are invasive and costly. The review covers studies performed on populations with specific diagnoses and undefined origins of LBP. Since the natural history of LBP is progressive, the temporal nature of studies is categorized by duration of symptomology/disease. Related studies on changes in biomarkers with treatment are also reviewed. Ultimately, diagnostic biomarkers of LBP and spinal degeneration have the potential to shepherd an era of individualized spine medicine for personalized therapeutics in the treatment of LBP.
Clinical radiographic and outcomes investigation.
To investigate clinical and radiographic outcomes for lumbosacral fusion (in patients with spinal deformity) using a combination of bilateral sacral ...and iliac screws with a minimum 5-year follow-up.
To our knowledge, long-term results (>5 years of follow-up) of bilateral S1 screw/bilateral iliac screw fixation have never been published or presented.
A total of 67 patients (from an initial consecutive cohort of 81) undergoing lumbosacral fusion with bilateral sacral and iliac screws with a minimum follow-up of 5 years (range 5-10 + 5, average 6 + 3) were analyzed for radiographic outcome and clinical course by an outcome questionnaire (administered at ultimate follow-up) analysis. Patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1, 34 patients with mostly high-grade spondylolisthesis; and group 2, 33 with adult scoliosis fused mostly from the thoracic spine to the sacrum. A true anteroposterior pelvis film was obtained in all patients to assess for sacroiliac joint arthritis, as were standard spine radiographs. Patients were administered Oswestry and directed buttock pain questionnaires at latest follow-up.
There were no cases of sacral screw failure (i.e., screw loosening, partial screw pullout, or fracture of the sacral screw). There were 5 cases of nonunion at L5-S1. Of the 5 cases, 3 did not have anterior column support at L5-S1. Four of the 5 cases were revised, and, subsequently, 3 achieved union. Iliac screws were removed electively on 1 or both sides in 23 of the patients after 2 years postoperatively because of prominence. There were 7 cases of iliac screw breakage. Iliac screw halos were observed in 29 patients. No sacroiliac osteoarthritis was observed on the true anteroposterior pelvis films. At ultimate follow-up, average visual analog painscale (0-10) score to assess buttock pain was 2.4, and average Oswestry score was 20.1.
For high-grade spondylolisthesis and long adult deformity fusions to the sacrum, a montage of bilateral S1 screws and iliac screws were effective in protecting the sacral screws from failure. Pseudarthrosis at L5-S1 was manifested by rod breakage at that level. We saw no evidence of a long-term effect of the iliac screws predisposing the sacroiliac joints to degeneration at follow-up ranging from 5 to 10 years.
Degenerative scoliosis is a prevalent issue among the aging population. Controversy remains over the role of surgical intervention in patients with this disease. The authors discuss a suitable ...approach to help guide surgical treatment, including decompression, instrumented posterior spinal fusion, anterior spinal fusion, and osteotomy. These treatment options are based on clinical analysis, radiographic analysis of the mechanical stability of the deformity, given pain generators, and necessary sagittal balance. The high potential complication rates appear to be outweighed by the eventual successful clinical outcomes in patients suitable for operative intervention. This approach has had favorable outcomes and could help resolve the controversy.
A retrospective review.
To characterize the risk factors for the development of major complications in 3-column osteotomies and determine whether the presence of a major complication affects ultimate ...clinical outcomes.
Three-column spinal osteotomies, including pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO) and vertebral column resection (VCR), are common techniques to correct severe and/or rigid spinal deformities.
Two hundred forty consecutive PSO (n = 156) and VCR (n = 84) procedures in 237 patients were performed at a single institution between 1995 and 2008. Of these, 105 patients (87 PSOs, 18 VCRs) had complete preoperative and minimum 2-year postoperative clinical outcomes data available for analysis. Using established criteria, we reported complications as major or minor and further stratified complications as surgical versus medical and permanent versus transient. Risk factors for complications and their effect on Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) clinical outcomes at baseline and at 2 years or more were assessed.
Major medical and surgical complications occurred at similar rates in both PSOs and VCRs (38%, 33 of 87 vs. 22%, 4 of 18; P = 0.28). Overall, 24.8% (26 of 105) experienced major surgical complications (3 permanent) and 15.2% (16 of 105) experienced major medical complications (4 permanent). Patients with PSO were older (53 vs. 29 yr; P < 0.001), had greater estimated blood loss (1867 vs. 1278 mL; P = 0.02), and showed a trend toward fewer fused levels (10.1 vs. 12.2; P = 0.06). Risk factors for major complications included preoperative sagittal imbalance of 40 mm or more (P = 0.01), age 60 years and older (P = 0.01), and the presence of 3 or more medical comorbidities (P = 0.04). Both groups improved significantly from baseline in SRS subscores; however, patients with PSO started off worse but improved more than VCRs in both the pain (+1.0 vs. +0.1; P < 0.001) and function (+0.6 vs. +0.2; P = 0.01) domains, with no differences in final satisfaction (4.1 vs. 4.3; P = 0.54). PSO and VCR patients with no complications had slightly higher satisfaction scores than patients with minor-only complications, major transient complications, and major permanent complications. There were no significant differences among the groups with respect to change in SRS subscores from baseline, and all complication groups improved significantly from baseline (P = 0.04).
Major complications occurred in 35% of 3-column osteotomies and at similar rates for both PSO (38%) and VCR (22%) procedures. The presence of a major complication did not affect the ultimate clinical outcomes at 2 years or more.
Care of the patient with adult spinal deformity (ASD) has evolved from being primarily supportive to now having the ability to directly treat and correct the spinal pathology. The focus of this ...narrative literature review is to briefly summarize the history of ASD treatment, discuss the current state of the art of ASD care with focus on surgical treatment and current challenges, and conclude with a discussion of potential developments related to ASD surgery.In the past, care for ASD was primarily based on supportive measures, including braces and assistive devices, with few options for surgical treatments that were often deemed high risk and reserved for rare situations. Advances in anesthetic and critical care, surgical techniques, and instrumentation now enable almost routine surgery for many patients with ASD. Despite the advances, there are many remaining challenges currently impacting the care of ASD patients, including increasing numbers of elderly patients with greater comorbidities, high complication and reoperation rates, and high procedure cost without clearly demonstrated cost-effectiveness based on standard criteria. In addition, there remains considerable variability across multiple aspects of ASD surgery. For example, there is currently very limited ability to provide preoperative individualized counseling regarding optimal treatment approaches (e.g., operative vs nonoperative), complication risks with surgery, durability of surgery, and likelihood of achieving individualized patient goals and satisfaction. Despite the challenges associated with the current state-of-the-art ASD treatment, surgery continues to be a primary option, as multiple reports have demonstrated the potential for surgery to significantly improve pain and disability. The future of ASD care will likely include techniques and technologies to markedly reduce complication rates, including greater use of navigation and robotics, and a shift toward individualized medicine that enables improved counseling, preoperative planning, procedure safety, and patient satisfaction.Advances in the care of ASD patients have been remarkable over the past few decades. The current state of the art enables almost routine surgical treatment for many types of ASD that have the potential to significantly improve pain and disability. However, significant challenges remain, including high complication rates, lack of demonstrated cost-effectiveness, and limited ability to meaningfully counsel patients preoperatively on an individual basis. The future of ASD surgery will require continued improvement of predictability, safety, and sustainability.
In addressing adult spinal deformities through a posterior approach, the surgeon now may choose from among a variety of osteotomy techniques. The Ponte or Smith-Petersen osteotomy provides the least ...correction, but it can be used at multiple levels with minimal blood loss and a lower operative risk. Pedicle subtraction osteotomies provide nearly 3 times the per-level correction of Ponte/Smith-Petersen osteotomies but carry increased technical demands, longer operative time, and greater blood loss and associated morbidity. Vertebral column resections serve as the most powerful method, providing the most correction in the coronal and sagittal planes, but posing both the greatest technical challenge and the greatest risk to the patient in terms of possible neurological injury, operative time, and potential morbidity. The authors reviewed the literature relating to these osteotomy methods. They also provided case illustrations and suggestions for their proper application.
STUDY DESIGN.Case control study.
OBJECTIVE.To evaluate risk factors in patients in 3 groupsthose without proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) (N), with PJK but not requiring revision (P), and then ...those with PJK requiring revision surgery (S).
SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA.It is becoming clear that some patients maintain stable PJK angles, whereas others progress and develop severe PJK necessitating revision surgery.
METHODS.A total of 206 patients at a single institution from 2002 to 2007 with adult scoliosis with 2-year minimum follow-up (average 3.5 yr) were analyzed. Inclusion criteria were age more than 18 years and primary fusions greater than 5 levels from any thoracic upper instrumented vertebra to any lower instrumented vertebrae. Revisions were excluded. Radiographical assessment included Cobb measurements in the coronal/sagittal plane and measurements of the PJK angle at postoperative time points1 to 2 months, 2 years, and final follow-up. PJK was defined as an angle greater than 10°.
RESULTS.The prevalence of PJK was 34%. The average age in N was 49.9 vs. 51.3 years in P and 60.1 years in S. Sex, body mass index, and smoking status were not significantly different between groups. Fusions extending to the pelvis were 74%, 85%, and 91% of the cases in groups N, P, and S. Instrumentation type was significantly different between groups N and S, with a higher number of upper instrumented vertebra hooks in group N. Radiographical parameters demonstrated a higher postoperative lumbar lordosis and a larger sagittal balance change, with surgery in those with PJK requiring revision surgery. Scoliosis Research Society postoperative pain scores were inferior in group N vs. P and S, and Oswestry Disability Index scores were similar between all groups.
CONCLUSION.Patients with PJK requiring revision were older, had higher postoperative lumbar lordosis, and larger sagittal balance corrections than patients without PJK. Based on these data, it seems as though older patients with large corrections in their lumbar lordosis and sagittal balance were at risk for developing PJK, requiring revision surgery.Level of Evidence3
An analysis of clinical and radiographic data of 40 consecutive patients with fixed sagittal imbalance.
To determine the effect of mid lumbar pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO), pelvic incidence ...(PI), thoracic kyphosis (TK), and patient characteristics on correction obtained in patients with fixed sagittal imbalance.
PSO is commonly performed for spinal reconstruction in patients with fixed sagittal imbalance. Prior studies have not investigated the role that osteotomy location, PI, TK, and presenting patient characteristics may play in the correction obtained after PSO.
Forty consecutive patients were identified who underwent PSO with minimum 2-year clinical and radiographic follow-up at a single institution. Data were analyzed before surgery and at 2 and 24 months after surgery to identify the magnitude and durability of correction and associated variables. RESULTS.: C7 plumb line improved from mean 15 cm anterior to the sacrum before surgery to 3.0 cm after surgery and 4.5 cm at 24 months (P < 0.0001); mean PSO wedge size was 32.4 degrees . Patients treated for idiopathic deformity (typically following prior Harrington rod fusions) had better maintenance of correction than patients with degenerative sagittal imbalance, although not statistically significant (P = 0.06). Fusion to the upper thoracic spine preserved correction better than fusion to the thoracolumbar junction. Sagittal plane correction, SRS outcome scores and Oswestry scores were equivalent comparing PSO's performed at L2 and L3.Using our patient data, we tested models of PI and TK to predict the lumbar lordosis needed to achieve ideal sagittal balance. The formula PI + LL + TK < or =45 degrees showed 91% sensitivity for predicting ideal sagittal balance at 24 months (P = 0.001).
PI and TK can predict the lumbar lordosis necessary to correct sagittal imbalance in patients under-going PSO with high sensitivity. Sagittal correction and clinical outcome scores were equivalent comparing PSO's performed at L2 and L3. Patients with degenerative sagittal imbalance and those with shorter fusions are more likely to lose correction with time.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Over the last several decades, significant advances have occurred in the assessment and management of spinal deformity.
OBJECTIVE: The primary focus of this narrative review is ...on recent advances in adult thoracic, thoracolumbar, and lumbar deformities, with additional discussions of advances in cervical deformity and pediatric deformity.
METHODS: A review of recent literature was conducted.
RESULTS: Advances in adult thoracic, thoracolumbar, and lumbar deformities reviewed include the growing applications of stereoradiography, development of new radiographic measures and improved understanding of radiographic alignment objectives, increasingly sophisticated tools for radiographic analysis, strategies to reduce the occurrence of common complications, and advances in minimally invasive techniques. In addition, discussion is provided on the rapidly advancing applications of predictive analytics and outcomes assessments that are intended to improve the ability to predict risk and outcomes. Advances in the rapidly evolving field of cervical deformity focus on better understanding of how cervical alignment is impacted by thoracolumbar regional alignment and global alignment and how this can affect surgical planning. Discussion is also provided on initial progress toward development of a comprehensive cervical deformity classification system. Pediatric deformity assessment has been substantially improved with low radiation-based 3-D imaging, and promising clinical outcomes data are beginning to emerge on the use of growth-friendly implants.
CONCLUSION: It is ultimately through the reviewed and other recent and ongoing advances that care for patients with spinal deformity will continue to evolve, enabling better informed treatment decisions, more meaningful patient counseling, reduced complications, and achievement of desired clinical outcomes.
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