Surgery for Low Back Pain
Marek Szpalski Robert Gunzburg Björn L. Rydevik Jean-Charles Le Huec H. Michael Mayer (Eds.)
Surgery for Low Back Pain
Marek Szpalski, MD Department of Orthopedic Surgery Hôpitaux Iris Sud Université Libre de Bruxelles 142 rue Marconi 1190 Brussels, Belgium Department of Orthopedics New York University New York, USA
[email protected] Robert Gunzburg, MD Eeuwfeestkliniek Algemeen Ziekenhuis Monica Harmoniestraat 68 2018 Antwerpen Belgium
[email protected] Björn L. Rydevik, MD, PhD Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Sahlgrenska Department Orthopaedic Surgery 413 45 Göteborg Sweden
[email protected] Jean-Charles Le Huec, MD CHU Bordeaux Hôpital Pellegrin Service d’Orthopédie Traumatologie Place Amalie Raba Leon 33076 Bordeaux CX France
[email protected] H. Michael Mayer, MD, PhD Orthopädische Klinik München-Harlaching Wirbelsäulenzentrum Harlachinger Str. 51 81243 München Germany
[email protected] ISBN: 978-3-642-04546-2 e-ISBN: 978-3-642-04547-9 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-04547-9 Springer Heidelberg Dordrecht London New York Library of Congress Control Number: 2009938032 © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2010 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilm or in any other way, and storage in data banks. Duplication of this publication or parts thereof is permitted only under the provisions of the German Copyright Law of September 9, 1965, in its current version, and permission for use must always be obtained from Springer. Violations are liable to prosecution under the German Copyright Law. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. Product liability: The publishers cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information about dosage and application contained in this book. In every individual case the user must check such information by consulting the relevant literature. Cover design: eStudio Calamar, Figueres/Berlin Printed on acid-free paper Springer is part of Springer Science+Business Media (www.springer.com)
Preface
Low back pain is one of the most common conditions encountered in clinical practice; however, its definition itself is subject to debate and precise knowledge about it is conflicting. It can be attributed to a great number of different origins although, often, the true cause of nociception cannot be precisely defined. Furthermore, psychosocial variables have an important influence on the reporting back pain symptoms. Nevertheless, low back pain and the pathologies believed to be its cause are the main indication for spine surgery in most area of the world while true evidence about indications remains elusive and there is much discussion about the very different techniques used. The goal of this book is to shed some light on this complex subject. The indispensable bases of biology and biomechanics of spinal structures are covered as well as the important psychosocial determinants associated with back complaints. Diagnosis is now enhanced by new magnetic resonance techniques described thoroughly. Conservative treatment is still the base of low back pain handling, and natural history of the condition as well as the main conservative therapeutic options are described in detail. Medications, rehabilitation, back schools, manipulative therapies, and orthoses are the subject of fully documented chapters. Surgical techniques abound for the treatment of lumbar spine disorders and this book tries to clarify their indications and results. For many years fusion was the most used technique and became the “de facto” gold standard. The role of pelvic girdle pain and facet syndrome is subject to debate and the possible surgical treatment is discussed in those conditions. Chapters will cover different technique as well as the possible drawbacks like blood loss and adjacent level degeneration. The latter has led to the development of “nonfusion” technologies like artificial disks, semirigid fixation techniques, or interspinous implants. Indications, counter indications, techniques, and complications of those different techniques are presented and lead to discussion about what evidence we have for their effectiveness. Outcome assessment is paramount to finding evidence for treatments of low back pain. The principles of outcome assessment in back pain as well as the review of actual available evidence ends the book. This book is intended for clinicians as well as researchers in many fields of spinal disorders. It is of use to orthopedic and neurosurgeons, rheumatologists, neurologists, physiatrists, physical therapists, as well as psychologists and social security and insurance specialists. Brussels, Belgium Antwerp, Belgium
Marek Szpalski Robert Gunzburg v
Contents
Part I Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1
1.1
The Biology of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cornelia Neidlinger-Wilke and Hans-Joachim Wilke
3
1.2
Low Back Pain: Where Does the Pain Come From? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Helena Brisby
11
1.3
The Role of Cytokines in the Degenerative Spine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Björn Rydevik and Helena Brisby
17
1.4
Psychosocial Aspects of Low Back Pain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Christine Cedraschi and Valérie Piguet
23
1.5
Instability and Low Back Pain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tommy Hansson
29
Part II Diagnosis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
37
2.1
Dynamic MRI of the Spine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J. J. Abitbol, Soon-Woo Hong, Sana Khan, and Jeffrey C. Wang
39
2.2
Assessment of Status of End Plate and Diffusion in Degenerative Disc Disease . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S. Rajasekaran
2.3
47
The Role of Physician Extenders in a Low Back Pain Practice . . . . . Michael R. Zindrick, Michael N. Tzermiadianos, Cary R. Templin, and Raymond E. Hines III
57
Part III Conservative Treatment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
63
3.1
Natural Evolution of Nonspecific Low-Back Pain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michel Benoist and Thibaut Lenoir
65
3.2
Prescribing Conservative Treatment for Low Back Pain . . . . . . . . . . F. Balagué and J. Dudler
73
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3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
Contents
Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Low back Pain and Back Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Margareta Nordin
79
The Place of Chiropractic Care in the Treatment of Low Back Pain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Christopher J. Colloca
85
Efficacy of IDET and PIRFT for the Treatment of Discogenic Low Back Pain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brian J. C. Freeman
95
Lumbar Orthoses to Prevent and Treat Low-Back Pain . . . . . . . . . . . 101 Michel Benoist and Thibaut Lenoir
Part IV Surgical Treatment: Fusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 4.1
Indication for Lumbar Spinal Fusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 Max Aebi
4.2
Evidence for Efficacy of Pedicle-Based Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 Jeremy Fairbank
4.3
Low Back Pain Is Not an Indication for Stabilisation in Patients Operated for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127 E. Munting
4.4
Hybrid Construct for DDD in the Lumbar Spine: The Compromise Between Fusion and Nonfusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131 J. C. Le. Huec, R. Meyrat, F. Debusscher and S. Aunoble
4.5
The Management of Spondylolysis and Spondylolisthesis . . . . . . . . . 137 Brian J. C. Freeman and Ujjwal K. Debnath
4.6
Transpedicular-Transdiscal-Transcorporal (TPDC)-Fixation . . . . . . 147 Max Aebi
4.7
Facet Problems: A Surgical Indication? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155 F. Pellisé
4.8
Adjacent Level Disease: “Myth” or “Fact” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159 David A. Wong and Katherine E. Wong
4.9
Pelvic Girdle Pain: Indication for Surgery? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165 Bengt Sturesson
4.10 Blood Loss Management in Major Spine Surgery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169 Serena S. Hu and Jeremy A. Lieberman
Contents
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Part V Surgical Treatment: Other Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 5.1
How Disc Replacement Fits in the Treatment Algorithm for Degenerative Disc Disease: Refining Indications for Disc Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177 Richard D. Guyer and Donna D. Ohnmeiss
5.2
Clinical Factors that May Affect Outcome in Lumbar Total Disc Replacement. What Is the Evidence? . . . . . . . 183 Michael R. Zindrick, Mark Lorenz, Leonard I. Voronov, Michael N. Tzermiadianos, and Alexander Hadjipavlou
5.3
A Prospective Randomized Comparison of Two Lumbar Total Disk Replacements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193 Richard D. Guyer and Donna D. Ohnmeiss
5.4
Limitations of Lumbar Disk Arthroplasty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199 Serena S. Hu
5.5
Is Posterior Dynamic Stabilization an Option to Avoid Adjacent Segment Decompensation? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207 Missoum Moumene and Jürgen Harms
5.6
Immediate Biomechanical Effects of Lumbar Posterior Dynamic Stabilisation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213 Brian J. C. Freeman and Caspar E. W. Aylott
5.7
Overview of Pedicle Screw-Based Posterior Dynamic Stabilization Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221 Richard D. Guyer, Donna D. Ohnmeiss, and Kevin R. Strauss
5.8
Semirigid Fixation System for the Lumbar Spine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227 Dieter Grob, Andrea Luca, and Anne F. Mannion
5.9
Nonrigid Stabilization of the Spine – Problems Observed: Screw Loosening/Breakage/Implant Failure/Adjacent Segment Degeneration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233 Paul F. Heini
5.10 Interspinous Implants: State of the Art and Research of Evidence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241 Marek Szpalski, Robert Gunzburg, Christopher J. Colloca, and Robert J. Moore 5.11 NuBac Disc Arthroplasty System: Rationale and Clinical Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249 Massimo Balsano, Domagoj Coric, and Margreet Derks
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Contents
Part VI Outcomes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257 6.1
Outcome Assessment for Cost-Utility Evaluations: SF-6D vs. EQ-5D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259 Rikke Søgaard, Terkel Christiansen, and Finn Bjarke Christensen
6.2
Review of the Medical Evidence Regarding the Surgical Treatment of Low Back Pain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267 Andrew P. White, Justin G. Brothers, and Alexander R. Vaccaro
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Contributors
J.J. Abitbol California Spine Group, 5395 Ruffin Road Suite 103, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
[email protected] Max Aebi Center for Orthopaedic Research, University of Bern, Stauffenbachstrasse 78, 3014, Bern, Switzerland
[email protected] S. Aunoble Spine Unit, Bordeaux University Hôpital, CHU Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France Caspar E. W. Aylott Department of Spinal Surgery, Level 3, Theatre Block, Royal Adelaide Hospital, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia Federico Balagué Service de Rhumatologie, Médicine Physique et Réhabilitation, HFR- Hospital Cantonal, Case postale, 1708 Fribourg, Switzerland
[email protected] Massimo Balsano Spinal Regional Department, ULSS 4, Schio, Vicenza, Italy
[email protected] Michel Benoist University of Paris VII, Hôpital Beaujon, 100 Bd. du Gl. Leclerc 92110 Clichy, France
[email protected] Helena Brisby Department of Orthopaedics, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, 413 45, Gothenburg, Sweden
[email protected] Justin G. Brothers Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
[email protected] Christine Cedraschi Division of Internal Medicine for Rehabilitation, Geneva University Hospitals, Rue Gabrielle Perret-Gentil 4, 1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland
[email protected] Finn Bjarke Christensen Health Economics Unit, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 9, 5000 Odense C, Denmark Terkel Christiansen Health Economics Unit, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 9, 5000 Odense C, Denmark
[email protected] xi
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Christopher J. Colloca Department of Kinesiology, Arizona State University, 101 South Roosevelt Avenue, Chandler, AZ 85226, USA
[email protected] Domagoj Coric Carolina Neurosurgery and Spine Associates, 225 Baldwin Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28207, USA,
[email protected] Ujjwal K. Debnath Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Letterkenny General Hospital, Donegal, Ireland F. Debusscher Spine Unit, Bordeaux University Hospital, CHU Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France Margreet Derks Pioneer Surgical Technology BV, Princenhof Park 10, 3972 NG Driebergen, The Netherlands,
[email protected] Jean Dudler Service de Rhumatologie, Médecine Physique et Réhabilitation, CHUV Hôpital Orthopédique, Avenue Pierre-Decker 4, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland,
[email protected] Jeremy Fairbank Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Oxford OX3 7LD, UK
[email protected] Brian J.C. Freeman Department of Spinal Surgery, Level 3, Theatre Block, Royal Adelaide Hospital, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
[email protected] Dieter Grob Spine Center, Schulthess Klinik, Lengghalde 2, 8008 Zürich, Switzerland
[email protected] Robert Gunzburg Eeuwfeestkliniek, Algemeen Ziekenhuis Monica, Harmoniestraat 68, 2018 Antwerpen, Belgium
[email protected] Richard D. Guyer Texas Back Institute, 6020 West Parker Rd. 200, Plano, TX 75093, USA,
[email protected] Alexander Hadjipavlou University of Crete, Heraklion, 71110 Crete, Greece
[email protected] Tommy Hansson Department of Orthopaedics, Sahlgrenska Academy, 413 45 Göteborg, Sweden,
[email protected] Jürgen Harms Department of Orthopaedic Traumatology I, Spine Surgery, Klinikum Karlsbad-Langensteinbach, 76307 Karlsbad, Germany
[email protected] Paul F. Heini Spine & Ortho center, Klinik Sonnenhof 3006 Bern, Switzerland,
[email protected] Raymond E. Hines III Hinsdale Orthopedic Associates, Hinsdale, IL 60521, USA Soon-Woo Hong California Spine Group, 5395 Ruffin Road, Suite 103, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
Contributors
Contributors
xiii
Serena S. Hu Department of Orthopedic Surgery, 500 Parnassus Avenue, Room MU320 West, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA,
[email protected] J.C. Le Huec Spine Unit, Bordeaux University Hospital, CHU Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France,
[email protected] Sana Khan California Spine Group, 5395 Ruffin Road, Suite 103, San Diego, CA 92123, USA Thibaut Lenoir Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hôpital Beaujon, 100 Bd. du Gl. Leclerc, 92110 Clichy, France,
[email protected] Mark Lorenz Hinsdale Orthopaedic Associates, SC, Hinsdale, IL 60521, USA
[email protected] Andrea Luca Spine Center, Schulthess Klinik, Lengghalde 2, 8008 Zürich, Switzerland Anne F. Mannion Spine Center, Schulthess Klinik, Lengghalde 2, 8008 Zürich, Switzerland,
[email protected] R. Meyrat Spine Unit, Bordeaux University Hospital, CHU Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France Robert J. Moore The Adelaide Centre for Spinal Research, Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, Adelaide, SA, Australia,
[email protected] Missoum Moumene Department of Research and Development, DePuy Spine Inc., Raynham, MA, USA,
[email protected] E. Munting Clinique Saint Pierre, 1340 Ottignies Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium,
[email protected] Cornelia Neidlinger-Wilke Institute of Orthopaedic Research and Biomechanics, Centre of Musculoskeletal Research, University of Ulm, Helmholtzstraße 14, 89081 Ulm, Germany,
[email protected] Margareta Nordin Occupational and Industrial Orthopaedic Center (OIOC), Graduate Program of Ergonomics and Biomechanics, New York University (NYU) Hospital for Joint Diseases, NYU Langone Medical Center, CDC/NIOSH Education and Research Center (ERC), New York University, New York, NY, USA
[email protected] Donna D. Ohnmeiss Texas Back Institute Research Foundation, 6020 West Parker Rd. 200, Plano, TX 75093, USA,
[email protected] F. Pellisé Unitat de Cirugia del Raquis Vall d’Hebron, Hospital Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona, Vall d’Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
[email protected] Valérie Piguet Multidisciplinary Pain Centre, Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geneva University Hospitals, Rue Gabrielle Perret-Gentil 4, 1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland,
[email protected] xiv
S. Rajasekaran Department of Orthopaedic and Spine Surgery, Ganga Hospital, 313 Mettupalayam Road, Coimbatore, 641043 Tamil Nadu, India
[email protected] Björn Rydevik Department of Orthopaedics, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, 413 45, Gothenburg, Sweden,
[email protected] Rikke Søgaard CAST–Centre for Applied Health Services Research and Technology Assesment, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 9, 5000 Odense C, Denmark,
[email protected] Kevin R. Strauss K2M, Inc., Leesburg, VA, USA Bengt Sturesson Department of Orthopaedics, Ängelholm Hospital, 262 81 Ängelholm, Sweden,
[email protected] Marek Szpalski Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Hôpitaux Iris Sud, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 142 rue Marconi, 1190 Brussels, Belgium Department of Orthopedics, New York University New York, USA
[email protected] Cary R. Templin Hinsdale Orthopedic Associates, Hinsdale, IL 60521, USA Michael N. Tzermiadianos Hinsdale Orthopedic Associates, Hinsdale, IL 60521, USA 45, Eleftheria Square (Electra BLD, 1st floor) 71201 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
[email protected] Alexander R. Vaccaro Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Neurosurgery, Rothman Institute at Jefferson University Hospital, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA,
[email protected] Leonard I. Voronov Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL, USA Jeffrey C. Wang Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Santa Monica – UCLA Medical Center and Orthopaedic Hospital, 1250 16th Street, 7th Tower, No. 745, Santa Monica, CA 90404, USA Jeremy A. Lieberman Spine Anesthesia Service Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, 521 Parnassus Ave., Box 0648, Room L-008, San Francisco, CA,
[email protected] Andrew P. White Carl J. Shapiro Department of Orthopaedics - Stoneman 10, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA 02215, USA,
[email protected] Hans-Joachim Wilke Institute of Orthopaedic Research and Biomechanics, Centre of Musculoskeletal Research, University of Ulm, Helmholtzstraße 14, 89081 Ulm, Germany,
[email protected] David A. Wong Advanced Center for Spinal Microsurgery, Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center, Denver, CO 80218, USA,
[email protected] Katherine E. Wong Denver Spine, Advanced Center for Spinal Microsurgery, Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center, Denver, CO 80111, USA Michael R. Zindrick Hinsdale Orthopedic Associates, Hinsdale, IL 60521, USA
[email protected] Contributors
Part Basics
I
The Biology of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration
1.1
Cornelia Neidlinger-Wilke and Hans-Joachim Wilke
Introduction: The Normal Intervertebral Disc Intervertebral discs act as the joints of the spinal column and provide it with mobility and flexibility. The predominant mechanical functions of intervertebral discs are to transmit the compressive loads through the spine and to allow it to bend and twist. These complex mechanical functions depend on the structural and biochemical composition of the disc matrix: the disc cells that are responsible for the synthesis and maintenance of these matrix molecules. Morphologically, intervertebral discs consist of a central nucleus pulposus surrounded by the fibrous annulus lamellae. The discs are enclosed axially by the cartilaginous endplates, which form the interface between the disc and the adjacent vertebrae. The major components of the disc matrix are water, collagen and proteoglycans, mainly aggrecan. There is a gradient in the proportion of these three matrix constituents throughout the disc; the outer annulus has the highest collagen concentration and the lowest aggrecan and water content, while aggrecan and water concentration increase towards the central nucleus, with a decrease in collagen content. Although disc cells occupy only one percent of the whole tissue, the annulus and nucleus cells produce and maintain all of the matrix molecules so that each disc cell is responsible for a large volume of matrix. As discs are avascular, oxygen and other nutrients must diffuse from these blood vessels across the endplate
C. Neidlinger-Wilke (*) Institute of Orthopaedic Research and Biomechanics, Centre of Musculoskeletal Research, University of Ulm, Helmholtzstraße 14, 89081 Ulm, Germany e-mail:
[email protected] and through the matrix to reach the cells of the disc, and products of metabolism must be removed by the reverse route. In addition, since the discs are subjected to mechanical loading at all times, disc cells are also exposed to multiple physical stimuli including tension, compression and also fluid flow (because discs lose and regain about 25% of their fluid during a diurnal cycle). The consequence of hydration and dehydration of the disc is a change in the physicochemical environment of the disc cells since concentrations of matrix molecules, ions and hence, osmolarity are influenced by fluid loss and regain. All these factors are thought to affect the activity of disc cells and play an important role in the maintenance of a balance between the matrix forming and degrading processes. Recent studies suggest that all these environmental factors and their complex interactions influence disc physiology. Changes in these factors, either as a cause or a consequence of degenerative changes in the disc tissue, are thought to influence disc matrix turnover. Besides these external factors, a strong familial predisposition for disc degeneration has been noted, suggesting that genetic effects are the highest risk factor for disc degeneration. The present review summarizes recent knowledge on the biology of disc degeneration and the open questions that remain to be investigated.
Biology of Disc Degeneration Intervertebral disc degeneration is one of the main reasons for back pain and a very common burden for the affected patient as well as the society because of the high costs for the health system [28]. Though it is not known how much the degenerated disc itself contributes to chronic back pain, it can be estimated that more
M. Szpalski et al. (eds.), Surgery for Low Back Pain, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-04547-9_1.1, © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2010
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4
than 90% of all surgical spine treatments are performed as a consequence of disc degeneration. There was very little research activity in the disc field for a long time, but during the last few years a number of studies investigating epidemiological [6, 7], biological [49, 50] and biomechanical aspects [1, 47] of disc degeneration have been published.
Histological Findings and Biomechanical Effects of Disc Degeneration From a biomechanical point of view, the disc is a fascinating structure. The nucleus of the disc in the early life or in only slightly degenerated discs acts like a gelatinous mass. A compressive load decreases disc height and can increase the hydrostatic pressure up to a considerable magnitude [52], which pushes the surrounding structures in all directions away from the centre of the nucleus. This leads to a bulging of the endplates of the vertebrae and of the outer annulus, which leads to an almost equal stress distribution throughout the disc [13]. In flexion, extension or lateral bending, the inner and middle annulus is also compressed but the outer annulus has to resist more strain. During the day, load reduces the disc height mainly because of water being squeezed out, and also due to creep of the viscoelastic collagen fibres of the annulus. Both effects are reversible in healthy discs when unloading the spine, e.g. during a night’s bed rest [52]. The longer the load acts on the spine, the more the annulus bulges and the more the facet joints are loaded. Degenerated discs alter their structure and function [2, 53]. Finite element studies showed that the risk of prolapses is highest in the posterior and posterolateral annulus under load combinations, especially in a non- and mildly degenerated disc [42, 43]. Moderate or strongly degenerated discs have a lower risk for a prolapse. The histomorphological alterations of the disc tissue are complex as recently reviewed [38]. The central nucleus, which has a very high water-binding capacity in young age, gets more and more dry and the gelatinous structure changes into a more fibro-cartilaginous tissue. Cleft formation with fissures is often observed. In the nucleus of degenerated discs, the formation of cell clusters and an increased level of cell senescence
C. Neidlinger-Wilke and H.-J. Wilke
has been reported [39]. The finding of an increased number of senescent cells predominantly in the nucleus of herniated discs suggests that cell senescence plays an important role in disc degeneration. Also the annulus structure changes during degeneration. The annulus lamellae become more irregular with a more disorganized collagen and elastin network. Annular tear formation is considered as a morphological sign of degeneration in many discs [32]. These enormous structural changes result in a decreased flexibility and a reduced water-binding capacity of degenerated disc with the consequence that the discs have impaired load-bearing properties.
Epidemiology and Diagnosis of Disc Degeneration For an epidemiological investigation of disc degeneration, these structural changes can be diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Low disc signal intensity is considered as a sensitive sign of disc degeneration. It, together with the determination of other important disc features (such as disc height, annulus fibrosus contours, tears in the annulus, fissures in the nucleus, end-plate morphology), is the basis of scoring the degree of disc degeneration [37, 50]. Twin studies using this technique have shown the high influence of genetic factors. However, recent MRI techniques also have limitations because of their poor specificity in the evaluation of significant disc degenerative changes. Measurements of intervertebral disc water (through determination of diffusion coefficients) might provide better means of determining impaired disc integrity and degrees of degeneration. In the future, quantitative dynamic MR imaging of patients during exposure to physiological loads could be a promising tool for a better diagnosis of disc degeneration.
Aetiology of Disc Degeneration Disc degeneration is a complex problem with multiple factors contributing to this phenomenon. Mechanical loads, genetic predisposition, and alterations of the physicochemical environment of the disc are all discussed
1.1 The Biology of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration
to be contributors to degenerative pathways; it is not known, however, exactly how these different aspects interact and influence each other.
Influence of Mechanical Loading Though it was thought for a long time that disc degeneration is mainly caused by abnormal loading, no direct evidence for mechanical load-induced disc degeneration has yet been found possibly because its interactions with occupational and psychosocial factors make a clear separation of mechanical from other factors difficult. In animal experiments the direct influence of mechanical loading has found that discs exposed to abnormal compressive or vibration forces showed signs of degenerative changes [16, 23, 25, 26]. On the other hand, other well-controlled studies found no adverse effects on the disc after long-term compression or intense exercise [15, 36]. In a treadmill training study with young beagle dogs, measurements of disc collagen and proteoglycans supported the hypothesis that an adaptation of the tissue to enhanced motion and stress is possible. In vitro studies using human-disc cells taken from discs removed at surgery suggest that mechanical loads could influence gene expression of matrix-forming proteins or matrix-degrading enzymes [29, 30]. However, the effects of load were quite low and showed high variability between different patients. Effects on animal cells differ between studies. Physiological ranges of intermittent hydrostatic pressure applied to canine disc cells in alginate beads increased proteoglycan biosynthesis [14]. On the other hand, high frequencies (around 5 Hz) of dynamic hydrostatic loading disrupted protein metabolism of pig intervertebral disc cells [20]. Thus, in vitro studies using disc cells suggest that mechanical loads can influence disc matrix turnover via alteration of gene expression or biosynthesis of disc matrix proteins or matrix degrading enzymes. In summary, the results of most animal studies suggest that at least certain forms of mechanical loads can contribute to the induction of disc degeneration, while clinical studies failed to prove a strong causal link between occupational exposures and disc degeneration. These results suggest that while mechanical factors have some influence, other factors also contribute to the complex aetiology of disc degeneration.
5
Genetic Predisposition Evaluations of questionnaires helped to identify environmental risk factors for disc degeneration like cigarette smoking, repetitive mechanical loading and lifting of heavy loads; relatively recent studies suggest, however, that genetic influences might be the highest risk factor, and that environmental factors have only modest effects. Based on the results of many studies, genetic inheritance is now considered to be the highest risk factor for disc degeneration [6]. From the findings of twin studies, genetic factors are estimated to contribute 60–70% to disc degeneration [7, 27, 41]. DNA-genotyping of blood samples of patients with disc degeneration and age-matched controls have led to the identification of a number of variations (single nucleotide polymorphism) in individual genes associated with disc degeneration. Polymorphisms in genes encoding for aggrecan, collagen I, II, and IX have been correlated with degeneration-associated alterations of the disc matrix. Also variations in noncollagenous matrix proteins like CILP (cartilage intermediate layer protein) or in genes encoding for inflammation factors (interleukins (IL1, IL6) have been reported. Polymorphisms in genes encoding for matrix degrading enzymes like MMPs and in the vitamin D receptor genes have been found to accelerate degenerative changes though the exact mechanism is often unknown.
Initiation of Disc Degeneration: Alterations of the Physicochemical Environment In normal intervertebral discs, the maintenance and turnover of the disc matrix are in a balanced state, which means that matrix formation and matrix degradation compensate each other (Fig. 1.1.1). Disc degeneration starts when the catabolic processes prevail and exceed the synthesis of matrix-forming proteins. The changes of the disc tissue during degeneration have been recently reviewed [50]. The most striking biochemical alteration of disc matrix during degeneration is a degradation of aggrecan, the predominant disc matrix proteoglycan. These huge macromolecule aggregates with their high density
6
C. Neidlinger-Wilke and H.-J. Wilke normal disc
nerves
disc cells produce - matrix proteins: collagens proteoglycans (aggrecan)
blood vessels
anulus cells
nucleus cells
balance
- matrix degrading enzymes: MMPs, TIMPs
Fig. 1.1.1 Scheme of a normal disc. Annulus and nucleus cells produce matrix proteins (collagens and proteoglycans) and matrix degrading enzymes. Both processes are in balance. There is no
vascularization and innervation of the disc. It is suggested that intact aggrecan macromolecules have an inhibitory influence (…) on disc vascularization and innervation
of fixed negative charges are responsible for the unusual high osmotic pressure, and thus, the high water-binding capacity of the disc tissue. Shorter molecules of aggrecan and a lower concentration explain the decreased hydration capacity of degenerated discs.
and metabolic active [8, 9]. The cells are particularly sensitive to the accumulation of lactic acid, which decreases the pH [5]. In vitro studies have shown that an acidic pH decreases proteoglycan biosynthesis of disc cells, but does not decrease the activity of matrixdegrading enzymes. All of these alterations in the nutritional environment may result in adverse effects on disc cell function, and thus, contribute to degenerative changes of intervertebral discs [31]. Intervertebral disc cells exist in an unusual high osmotic environment compared to cells in other connective tissues [48]. Due to reversible hydration and dehydration of the disc, the osmotic environment is not constant, but underlies diurnal variation, with the highest value at the end of a working day when almost 25% of the disc fluid is extruded from the disc tissue, and the lowest values in the morning after water imbibition, which occurs during the night when the axial load is very low [46]. Degeneration results in alterations to the osmotic environment: degradation of disc proteoglycans leads to a fall in osmolarity in the disc tissue. In vitro experiments with disc cells [54] and full-organ cultures of intervertebral discs [12] have shown that osmolarity can directly influence matrix formation and degradation as the expression of genes that are responsible for these anabolic or catabolic processes can be up- or down-regulated by osmotic conditions [54]. Both diurnal changes
Impaired Nutrient Supply Many environmental factors that are believed to contribute to the initiation of these degenerative changes are discussed whereas decreased nutrition is assumed to be a key contributor [51]. Normal discs are avascular, and nutrient supply and removal of metabolic degradation products occur predominantly via diffusion from the blood vessels at the cartilaginous endplate. A reduction of this nutrient supply is assumed to be one – if not the major – reason for disc degeneration. Calcification of the cartilaginous endplates leads to a decreased permeability for nutrients and metabolites. In vivo measurements with microelectrodes have shown that the nutrient supply in the centre of many degenerated discs is low [5]. Disc cells are very sensitive to alterations of these environmental conditions. In vitro experiments have shown that the disc cells need critical concentrations of glucose, a suitable pH and oxygen supply to stay viable
1.1 The Biology of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration
and long-term alterations of the disc osmolarity as caused by degeneration may alter disc cell responses to mechanical loading.
Innervation and Vascularization
7
factors might play a role in the disc degradation pathway. There are an increasing number of studies investigating the role of mediators, growth factors and inflammation molecules in disc pathogenesis.
Molecular Aspects of Disc Degeneration
In degenerated discs, ingrowth of blood vessels and pain fibres is observed [11, 18]. Both processes are associated, and therefore may play a direct role in the development of discogenic back pain. It has been suggested that there is a causal relationship between the decreased proteoglycan and pressure and an increased vascularization and innervation of degenerated discs (Fig. 1.1.2). A possible role of angiogenic and neurotrophic growth factors in the regulation of disc neovascularization and innervation is supported by a recent immunohistological study [17]. An increased level of inflammatory mediators and matrix fragments in degenerated disc tissue is discussed to be responsible for a progression of the degeneration process [3, 39]. As an association of degeneration with polymorphisms of pro-inflammatory genes (IL-1, IL-6, COX-2) has been demonstrated, these inflammation
For an explanation of the mechanism of disc degeneration, it is important to know how all the above mentioned factors, which may contribute to degenerative processes, directly influence disc cell function as the disc cells, though they occupy less than 1% of the disc tissue, are responsible for disc matrix turnover and maintenance. Alterations of the discs’ physical and biochemical environment could be transduced into cellular res ponses via proteins and receptors in the cell membrane, ion channels and receptors. A high number of signalling transduction pathways is reported and both mechanical loads and alterations of the metabolic environment can initiate via specific pathways intracellular mechanisms that finally lead to an up- or down-regulation of genes for matrix forming proteins or matrix degrading enzymes.
degenerated disc
less biosythesis, more degradation: MMPs, TIMPs, Cathepsins
Pleiotrophin VEGF
blood vessels
nerves
impaired nutrition
cell death
Fig. 1.1.2 Scheme of tissue alterations that are discussed to contribute to disc degeneration. There is an imbalance between matrix formation and degradation, whereas degradation exceeds biosynthesis. Impaired disc nutrition leads to cell senescence and apoptosis. Cell death is observed in degenerated discs. The predominant disc proteoglycan aggrecan is degraded. Therefore, degenerated discs have a reduced water binding capacity.
aggrecan degradation
Moreover, it is suggested that degraded aggrecan macromolecules reduce their inhibitory influence on disc vascularization and innervation, and nerves and blood vessels can invade into the disc tissue. Recent studies suggest that these disc matrix alterations are regulated by angiogenic and neurotrophic factors, inflammation factors and mechanical influences. Their exact role in the pathogenesis of disc degeneration remains to be investigated
8
Degradation and disorganization of the disc matrix is a visible sign of the degeneration process. Matrixmetalloproteinases (MMPs) are a well-characterized group of enzymes which are known to play a crucial role in the degenerative pathways, though the mechanisms are still unknown. Their activity is modulated by the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) [22, 44]. Under normal conditions, MMPs and TIMPs are in balance, but an imbalance between MMPs and TIMPs can increase MMP activity and degradation. In the literature, there are reports that several MMPs (MMP-1, -2, -3, -7, -9, and -13) are increased during disc degeneration [24, 40]. Many disc matrix collagens and other macromolecules are possible substrates for these enzymes. The fact that degradation products that result from MMP-activity might also have regulatory functions indicates the high complexity of this aspect of matrix breakdown. Moreover, the possible role of aggrecan degrading enzymes (ADAMTs) in disc breakdown is also discussed in the literature [45]. Another group of matrix-degrading enzymes, the cathepsins, might also play a role in disc matrix degradation. As these enzymes show their optimum activity in a more acidic environment, these enzymes could play a role in later steps of matrix degradation when an accumulation of lactic acid has already decreased the pH of the disc matrix [33]. The role of inflammatory mediators in intervertebral disc degeneration has been recently reviewed [35]. A number of mediators including nitric oxide, interleukins, PGE2, TNF-alpha and other cytokines have been implicated in the degeneration of intervertebral discs (reviewed by Paesold et al. [33]). However, though these studies show that disc cells have the potential to produce inflammatory mediators and cytokines, the exact mechanisms of their role in the degenerative pathway and their possible contribution to discogenic back pain remain to be investigated. In degeneration matrix, breakdown predominates over synthesis. Upregulation of the responsible proteases such as MMPs and ADAMTs (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase-1 with thrombospondin motifs) by cytokines including IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-alpha, which were all found in degenerated [34] and herniated discs [4], could play an important role in the progression of disc degeneration. As these cytokines are all produced by both disc cells [19] and by inflammatory cells like mast cells and macrophages [21], the source of these cytokines (disc cells or blood cells) is still unclear. Thus, disc vascularization might
C. Neidlinger-Wilke and H.-J. Wilke
play an important role in the initiation of degradative pathways regulated by inflammation factors. However, as disc cells have the potential to produce the inflammatory cytokines that are necessary to mediate an inflammation reaction [33], the role of the disc itself in the initiation of these processes remains to be investigated.
Summary In summary, though the present results suggest that disc degeneration might be genetic in origin, the identification of these genes alone will not provide clinical solutions for an understanding of pathogenesis pathways of disc degeneration. Our knowledge of the biology of disc degeneration has increased during the past years, but there are many unanswered questions that remain to be investigated: There is still no clear diagnosis in approximately 85% of disc degeneration related disorders and no clinical consensus on indications of methods and treatment. Functional genetic strategies will be necessary to identify those genes involved in disc-degeneration linked pathologies, which can act as targets for the development of diagnostic and repair strategies. These techniques have to be based on the knowledge of disc physiology, cell biology and biomechanics to prevent inappropriate or very expensive treatments of disc degeneration-related disorders. Acknowledgement The authors thank Dr. Jill Urban, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Geneticsy, Oxford University, UK, for reviewing this manuscript.
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1.1 The Biology of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration 5. Bartels EM, Fairbank JC, Winlove CP, Urban JP (1998) Oxygen and lactate concentrations measured in vivo in the intervertebral discs of patients with scoliosis and back pain. Spine 23:1–7; discussion 8 6. Battie MC, Videman T (2006) Lumbar disc degeneration: epidemiology and genetics. J Bone Joint Surg Am 88(suppl 2): 3–9 7. Battie MC, Videman T, Gibbons L, Fisher L, Manninen H, Gill K (1995) 1995 Volvo Award in clinical sciences. Determinants of lumbar disc degeneration. A study relating lifetime exposures and magnetic resonance imaging findings in identical twins. Spine 15:2601–2612 8. Bibby SR, Urban JP (2004) Effect of nutrient deprivation on the viability of intervertebral disc cells. Eur Spine J 13: 695–701 9. Bibby SRS, Jones DA, Ripley RM, Urban JPG (2005) Metabolism of the intervertebral disc: effects of low levels of oxygen, glucose and pH on rates of energy metabolism of bovine nucleus pulposus cells. Spine 30:487–496 10. Freemont AJ (2009) The cellular pathobiology of the degenerate intervertebral disc and discogenic back pain. Rheumatology (Oxford, England) 48:5–10. DOI ken396 [pii] 10.1093/rheumatology/ken396 11. Freemont AJ, Peacock TE, Goupille P, Hoyland JA, O’Brien J, Jayson MI (1997) Nerve ingrowth into diseased intervertebral disc in chronic back pain. Lancet 350:178–181 12. Haschtmann D, Stoyanov JV, Ferguson SJ (2006) Influence of diurnal hyperosmotic loading on the metabolism and matrix gene expression of a whole-organ intervertebral disc model. J Orthop Res 24:1957–1966 13. Heuer F, Schmidt H, Wilke HJ (2008) The relation between intervertebral disc bulging and annular fiber associated strains for simple and complex loading. J Biomech 41: 1086–1094 14. Hutton WC, Elmer WA, Bryce LM, Kozlowska EE, Boden SD, Kozlowski M (2001) Do the intervertebral disc cells respond to different levels of hydrostatic pressure? Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 16:728–734 15. Hutton WC, Ganey TM, Elmer WA, Kozlowska E, Ugbo JL, Doh ES, Whitesides TE Jr (2000) Does long-term compressive loading on the intervertebral disc cause degeneration? Spine 25:2993–3004 16. Iatridis JC, Mente PL, Stokes IA, Aronsson DD, Alini M (1999) Compression-induced changes in intervertebral disc properties in a rat tail model. Spine 24:996–1002 17. Johnson WE, Patterson AM, Eisenstein SM, Roberts S (2007) The presence of pleiotrophin in the human intervertebral disc is associated with increased vascularization: an immunohistologic study. Spine 32:1295–1302 18. Johnson WE, Caterson B, Eisenstein SM, Hynds DL, Snow DM, Roberts S (2002) Human intervertebral disc aggrecan inhibits nerve growth in vitro. Arthritis Rheum 46: 2658–2664 19. Kang JD, Georgescu HI, McIntyre-Larkin L, StefanovicRacic M, Donaldson WF 3rd, Evans CH (1996) Herniated lumbar intervertebral discs spontaneously produce matrix metalloproteinases, nitric oxide, interleukin-6, and prostaglandin E2. Spine 21:271–277 20. Kasra M, Merryman WD, Loveless KN, Goel VK, Martin JD, Buckwalter JA (2006) Frequency response of pig inter-
9 vertebral disc cells subjected to dynamic hydrostatic pressure. J Orthop Res 24:1967–1973 21. Kato T, Haro H, Komori H, Shinomiya K (2004) Sequential dynamics of inflammatory cytokine, angiogenesis inducing factor and matrix degrading enzymes during spontaneous resorption of the herniated disc. J Orthop Res 22:895–900 22. Kozaci LD, Guner A, Oktay G, Guner G (2005) Alterations in biochemical components of extracellular matrix in intervertebral disc herniation: role of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in type II collagen loss. Cell Biochem Funct 24:431–436 23. Kroeber MW, Unglaub F, Wang H, Schmid C, Thomsen M, Nerlich A, Richter W (2002) New in vivo animal model to create intervertebral disc degeneration and to investigate the effects of therapeutic strategies to stimulate disc regeneration. Spine 27:2684–2690 24. Le Maitre CL, Freemont AJ, Hoyland JA (2006) Human disc degeneration is associated with increased MMP 7 expression. Biotech Histochem 81:125–131 25. Lotz JC, Chin JR (2000) Intervertebral disc cell death is dependent on the magnitude and duration of spinal loading. Spine 25:1477–1483 26. Lotz JC, Colliou OK, Chin JR, Duncan NA, Liebenberg E (1998) Compression-induced degeneration of the intervertebral disc: an in vivo mouse model and finite-element study. Spine 23:2493–2506 27. MacGregor AJ, Andrew T, Sambrook PN, Spector TD (2004) Structural, psychological, and genetic influences on low back and neck pain: a study of adult female twins. Arthritis Rheum 51:160–167 28. Maniadakis N, Gray A (2000) The economic burden of back pain in the UK. Pain 84:95–103 29. Neidlinger-Wilke C, Wurtz K, Liedert A, Schmidt C, Borm W, Ignatius A, Wilke HJ, Claes L (2005) A three-dimensional collagen matrix as a suitable culture system for the comparison of cyclic strain and hydrostatic pressure effects on intervertebral disc cells. J Neurosurg Spine 2:457–465 30. Neidlinger-Wilke C, Wurtz K, Urban JP, Borm W, Arand M, Ignatius A, Wilke HJ, Claes LE (2006) Regulation of gene expression in intervertebral disc cells by low and high hydrostatic pressure. Eur Spine J 15:372–378 31. Ohshima H, Urban JP (1992) The effect of lactate and pH on proteoglycan and protein synthesis rates in the intervertebral disc. Spine 17:1079–1082 32. Osti OL, Vernon-Roberts B, Moore R, Fraser RD (1992) Annular tears and disc degeneration in the lumbar spine. A post-mortem study of 135 discs. J Bone Joint Surg Br 74: 678–682 33. Paesold G, Nerlich AG, Boos N (2007) Biological treatment strategies for disc degeneration: potentials and shortcomings. Eur Spine J 16:447–468 34. Peng B, Hao J, Hou S, Wu W, Jiang D, Fu X, Yang Y (2006) Possible pathogenesis of painful intervertebral disc degeneration. Spine 31:560–566 35. Podichetty VK (2007) The aging spine: the role of inflammatory mediators in intervertebral disc degeneration. Cell Mol Biol (Noisy-le-Grand, France) 53:4–18 36. Puustjarvi K, Lammi M, Helminen H, Inkinen R, Tammi M (1994) Proteoglycans in the intervertebral disc of young dogs following strenuous running exercise. Connect Tissue Res 30:225–240
10 37. Rajasekaran S, Naresh-Babu J, Murugan S (2007) Review of postcontrast MRI studies on diffusion of human lumbar discs. J Magn Reson Imaging 25:410–418 38. Roberts S, Evans H, Trivedi J, Menage J (2006) Histology and pathology of the human intervertebral disc. J Bone Joint Surg Am 88(suppl 2):10–14 39. Roberts S, Evans EH, Kletsas D, Jaffray DC, Eisenstein SM (2006) Senescence in human intervertebral discs. Eur Spine J 15(suppl 3):S312–S316 40. Roberts S, Caterson B, Menage J, Evans EH, Jaffray DC, Eisenstein SM (2000) Matrix metalloproteinases and aggrecanase: their role in disorders of the human intervertebral disc. Spine 25:3005–3013 41. Sambrook PN, MacGregor AJ, Spector TD (1999) Genetic influences on cervical and lumbar disc degeneration: a magnetic resonance imaging study in twins. Arthritis Rheum 42:366–372 42. Schmidt H, Heuer F, Wilke HJ (2008) Interaction between finite helical axes and facet joint forces under combined loading.Spine33:2741–2748.doi:10.1097/BRS.0b013e31817c4319 00007632-200812010-00008 [pii] 43. Schmidt H, Kettler A, Rohlmann A, Claes L, Wilke HJ (2007) The risk of disc prolapses with complex loading in different degrees of disc degeneration – a finite element analysis. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 22:988–998. DOI S02680033(07)00138-6 [pii] 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2007.07.008 44. Seguin CA, Pilliar RM, Roughley PJ, Kandel RA (2005) Tumor necrosis factor-alpha modulates matrix production and catabolism in nucleus pulposus tissue. Spine 30:1940–1948 45. Seguin CA, Bojarski M, Pilliar RM, Roughley PJ, Kandel RA (2006) Differential regulation of matrix degrading
C. Neidlinger-Wilke and H.-J. Wilke enzymes in a TNFalpha-induced model of nucleus pulposus tissue degeneration. Matrix Biol 25:409–418 46. Sivan S, Neidlinger-Wilke C, Wurtz K, Maroudas A, Urban JP (2006) Diurnal fluid expression and activity of intervertebral disc cells. Biorheology 43:283–291 47. Stokes IA, Iatridis JC (2004) Mechanical conditions that accelerate intervertebral disc degeneration: overload versus immobilization. Spine 29:2724–2732 48. Urban JP (2002) The role of the physicochemical environment in determining disc cell behaviour. Biochem Soc Trans 30:858–864 49. Urban JP, Roberts S (2003) Degeneration of the intervertebral disc. Arthritis Res Ther 5:120–130 50. Urban JP, Winlove CP (2007) Pathophysiology of the intervertebral disc and the challenges for MRI. J Magn Reson Imaging 25:419–432 51. Urban JP, Smith S, Fairbank JC (2004) Nutrition of the intervertebral disc. Spine 29:2700–2709 52. Wilke HJ, Neef P, Caimi M, Hoogland T, Claes LE (1999) New in vivo measurements of pressures in the intervertebral disc in daily life. Spine 24:755–762 53. Wilke HJ, Rohlmann F, Neidlinger-Wilke C, Werner K, Claes L, Kettler A (2006) Validity and interobserver agreement of a new radiographic grading system for intervertebral disc degeneration: Part I. Lumbar spine. Eur Spine J 15:720–730 54. Wuertz K, Urban JP, Klasen J, Ignatius A, Wilke HJ, Claes L, Neidlinger-Wilke C (2007) Influence of extracellular osmolarity and mechanical stimulation on gene expression of intervertebral disc cells. J Orthop Res 25: 1513–1522
Low Back Pain: Where Does the Pain Come From?
1.2
Helena Brisby
Introduction Patients with low back pain constitute a common patient group and can be divided into the acute group where the pain may be severe but short standing, and the group where the pain continues for a longer time and often influences many aspects of life. Patients with persisting low back pain, lasting longer than 3 months, are usually referred to as chronic [4], but perhaps a better expression for the condition is long-lasting low back pain (LLBP). One reason for using long-lasting instead of chronic is that in low back pain, as in conditions known to follow the patient for the rest of his/her life, a well-defined test does not set a precise diagnosis (compare with classic chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart failure and rheumatoid arthritis). Patients with LLBP suffer from more or less well-defined conditions that involve different anatomical structures and pathways in the pain system, and only 10–15% of patients with low back pain get a specific diagnosis [17]. There is a rapid ongoing development in surgical implants and surgical techniques, as well as suggested non-surgical treatment methods, for patients with low back pain. However, the lack of instruments to set a precise diagnose and/or identify the pain foci in many of these patients still remains. There are probably multiple reasons for the somewhat slow development of diagnostics compared to the rapid development in the treatment area. One reason for this might be the anatomy of the spinal structures with multiple flexible
H. Brisby Department of Orthopaedics, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, 413 45, Gothenburg, Sweden e-mail:
[email protected] parts; another, the complexity of the nervous system where pain may arise from a direct influence of the peripheral and/or central nervous system as well as the stimulation of nociceptors located in different spinal structures. Hence, the slow development of diagnostic tools may also be caused by the fact that research in the area of diagnostics for lumbar pain is not only difficult and time consuming, but also not economically supported to the same extent as new treatment methods, where the economical potential can be defined more easily in a business perspective. In this article possible pain sources for acute and chronic low back pain, as well as existing diagnostic tools to support or reject possible pain foci, are described. Further, the nervous system response and modulation mechanisms in response to long-standing pain, as well as psychological/personality factors influencing pain experiences, are discussed.
Intervertebral Discs Intervertebral discs are today considered as the main pain foci in patients with long-standing or chronic low back pain. The disc is the largest mobile part of the three-joint system building a motion segment in the spine (one motion segment defined as two vertebrates with connecting disc and bilateral facet joints). The highest shear and fibre strains of the disc have been demonstrated to occur posterolaterally in response to combined movements [37]. It is, therefore, not surprising that disc deterioration often is seen at the posterior part of the disc as a posterolateral or central disc herniation, a disc bulging, or by an increased fluid content at the posterior border of the disc in MRI (high intensity zone, HIZ).
M. Szpalski et al. (eds.), Surgery for Low Back Pain, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-04547-9_1.2, © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2010
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Patients with disc herniations often report preceding low back pain before the onset of sciatic pain. This pain experience is suggested to be caused by stimulation of nerve endings in the annulus fibrosus due to the annular tear. In parallel with investigations on mechanical problems in the spine, different inflammatory and sig nalling substances have been suggested to be of importance in the development and persistence of back pain. A number of experimental studies have demonstrated negative effects of disc tissue, and in particular, nucleus pulposus (NP) on nerve roots. NP can reduce spinal nerve root conduction velocity [32], induce nerve fibre degeneration, increase nerve fibre discharges [40], attract inflammatory cells [31] and induce increased intraneural capillary permeability [12]. Pro-inflammatory factors, which include cytokines (e.g. TNF and various interleukins), have been demonstrated to be present in disc herniation tissue [2]. High levels of pro-inflammatory mediators (IL-6 and IL-8) have also been found in disc tissue from patients considered to have discogenic low back pain undergoing fusion surgery [11]. In non-degenerated discs the presence of nerve fibres are detected in the absolute outer layers of the annulus fibrosus [33, 36]. These nerve fibres have been demonstrated to be both substance P-, calcitonin-gene-related peptide- (CGRP-) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide- (VIP)- immunoreactive [25]. Nerve impulses signalling sensory information from the intervertebral disc have in animal studies been demonstrated to be conducted through the sinuvertebral nerve into rami communicantes to sensory neurons in more cranially located dorsal root ganglia. In degenerated discs nerve endings have been found to extend into deeper layers of the annulus fibrosus [15, 27] and even into the NP [34]. The nerve fibres have been detected both in the anterior and the posterior parts of disc specimens following vascularized granulation tissue [25, 34]. The stimulation of these nerve endings may correlate with the dull chronic ache, exacerbated by the mechanical load of the spine, that is experienced by chronic low back pain patients and is often referred to as discogenic pain. The main diagnostic tool today to detect disc degeneration is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) where a number of signs as a decrease in water content, decreased disc height, disc bulging and/or indirect signs as vertebrae oedema can be detected. However,
H. Brisby
disc degeneration changes seen by MRI investigations can also be seen at high frequency in asymptomatic individuals [6, 7, 21]. Another tool that is widely used and debated is discography. The mechanism of discography involves the theory of increasing the intradiscal pressure for stimulation of mechanical nociceptors in the annulus fibrosus. Based on this assumption, discography has been suggested to be a tool for evaluating pain characteristics and the precise level of pain generation. However, concordant pain during a discography is not always combined with a fissured and ruptured disc on discography/CT discography [28] and discography has not conclusively been demonstrated to be helpful to increase the result of spinal fusions in chronic low back patients [13, 14]. Another way to use discography is to look at the decrease in pain after local anaesthetics are injected; however, studies in this field are not conclusive.
Facet Joints In the normal capsule of the facet joint both sensory and autonomic nerve fibres have been detected, and thus, the facet joint capsule has a structural basis for pain perception [38]. As in all joints, osteoarthrosis of the facet joint may occur and is more common in patients with disc degeneration. An inflammatory reaction is common in joints with osteoarthrosis and may stimulate nociceptors. Also mechanosensors may be influenced if the joint destruction leads to changes in the mobility of the joint such as in degenerative spondylolisthesis. Facet joint injections are sometimes used in elderly patients with facet joint osteoarthrosis to decrease low back pain with a minimal procedure. Measurement of nitric oxide has been performed in other osteoarthritic joints such as the knee joint and temporomandibular joint, and a relationship between NO and osteoarthrosis, as well as pain, has been observed [23, 39]. Recently, increased concentration of NO in, or in close relation to, the facet joints was also demonstrated in patients with facet joint osteoarthritis and low back pain [8]. If measurement of inflammatory markers or pain markers can be used as diagnostic tools to diagnose pain originating from the facet joints or some other part of a painful spinal segment is not yet clear.
1.2 Low Back Pain: Where Does the Pain Come From?
Muscles
13
trauma and can be visualized with x-ray, CT or MR scans. In patients with low back pain and disc degeneration, changes in the vertebrae are also often noticed in MRI. Signal changes in the bone marrow of the vertebral body adjacent to a degenerated disc are called Modic changes and are suggested to be oedema caused by micro fractures or inflammatory changes [3]. Exactly how this influence nociceptors is unclear; however, some correlations between Modic changes and pain symptoms have been described [24, 26].
Most muscles are well innervated and changes in their normal function may contribute to the pain experience both in acute and long-standing low back pain. In acute low back pain the muscle spasm is often extensive and has been suggested to be the main reason for the, often quite severe, pain that may hold back these patients from almost all movements the first day(s). However, if the muscle response in acute low back pain is a primary or a secondary event remains unclear. The activation patterns for the trunk muscles (both abdominal and lumbar) have been demonstrated to be changed in patients with chronic low back pain in both experimental and clinical studies [16, 22]. If Nervous System Involvement this, in concordance with the spasm in acute pain, is and Adaptation a response aiming to stabilize a degenerated spinal segment by decreasing movement and pain (pain- Free nerve endings present in various spine strucadaptation model) or if the changed muscle function tures respond to mechanical pressure/deformation contributes to the pain (pain-spasm-pain model) is, and chemical stimuli just as in other organs. The pain however, unclear [41]. impulses are conducted through myelinated A delta and unmyelinated C fibres to the dorsal root ganglion and continues via the spinothalamic tract to the thalamus and gives rise to the pain experience when Ligaments reaching the somatosensory cortex. Inflammatory substances from a deteriorated disc Nerve fibres have been detected in the posterior- or from facet joint arthrosis may influence nerve roots longitudinal ligament (PLL) [25], but not in some of and DRG, as well as nociceptors in different surroundthe other ligaments such as the ligamentum flavum. ing structures. Biochemical and mechanical factors The disc and the PLL have a close anatomical relation- may also act together to increase direct negative effects ship, and it is reasonable to believe that a gradual loss on nerve roots. Nerve tissue damage may also by itself of disc height causing bulging of the posterior part of increase inflammation by stimulation of macrophage the disc will influence the PLL and thus initiate stimu- infiltration and increasing the number of activated lation of nociceptors in the PLL. This may be caused T cells, which may add to the pain [1, 29]. Several bioby stretching or by chemical factors released from the markers associated to pain and/or neurotransmission disc. However, little is known of the role of PLL and have been studied in CSF and serum in patients with other ligaments in pain signalling and no diagnostic chronic low back pain and also in patients with sciatica tools to look at these structures in vivo in regard to [5, 9, 10, 18]. However, no clear diagnostic help has pain signalling exist. been demonstrated by the use of biomarkers in patients with low back pain. When handling pain patients, one always has to bear in mind that pain perception is a subjective expeVertebraes rience. The function of pain perception is primarily the detection of tissue damage, a mechanism extremely Nociceptors have been demonstrated to be present in important for the survival of the individual, but may bone structures also. Compression fractures in the also cause major clinical problems. In response to spine are a common cause of pain in the spine in older stimulation of free nerve endings, the somatosenand/or osteoporotic patients. These can occur without sory system may increase its sensitivity resulting in a
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n on-functional way to respond – normally innocuous stimuli result in an amplified response (peripheral sensitization). Pain impulses may also be modulated at higher centres, both at the spinal and the supraspinal level (central hyperexcitibiability). The first possible level for impulse modulation is the DRG. The changed magnitude of perceived pain is often referred to as neural plasticity and is considered to play a critical role in the evolution of chronic pain. Upregulation of chemokines within the nervous system, which can be released by astrocytes or microglia, may also contribute to pain modulation and the development of chronic pain [1]. Augmented central pain processing has been demonstrated in chronic low back pain patients with fMRI [19]. Hyperalgesia and increased neural activity measured by fMRI after thumbnail pressure were seen in this patient group when compared to controls. Chronic low back pain patients have also been demonstrated to have brain chemistry alterations demonstrated by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. A reduction of N-acetyl aspartate and glucose has been found in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in these patients [20]. The way people “think” about chronic low back pain has also been suggested to influence movements, and it has been demonstrated that pain physiology education can markedly alter brain activity, registered by fMRI, during performance of a specific task [30].
The Psychosocial Aspects of Chronic Pain Since pain is a subjective experience, it can, as with most experiences, be affected by psychosocial factors. Low back pain patients with certain psychological characteristics such as pain-related anxiety and low acceptance of pain have been demonstrated to be less sensitive to treatment [35]. On the other hand, long-standing severe pain may also affect a person psychologically and it is, therefore, difficult to ascertain the role psychological factors play in the development of chronic pain. However, most authors agree that psychosocial factors contribute to the individual perception of long-standing pain and coping with it.
H. Brisby
Summary In summary, many structures in the spine can theoretically contribute to acute low back pain as well as longstanding low back pain. The intervertebral disc, the facet joints and the muscle are the most likely local actors for initiation and maintenance of low back pain (both acute and long-standing). There are mechanical as well as biological rationales behind the theory that the disc is a tissue of major interest in low back pain. However, when it comes to diagnostics, investigations/test(s) to detect disc degeneration do exist, but are still inconclusive in pointing out a certain disc as the pain foci. As for the facet joints, ligaments and the vertebras, still less is known regarding their role in low back pain patients. In patients with low back pain, changed activity of the muscles localized around the spine is common; however, whether this is a secondary response or not is less clear. When the complexity of the nervous system and psychological factors is added, the need for more research and better diagnostic tools in this patient group becomes obvious.
References 1. Abbadie C (2005) Chemokines, chemokine receptors and pain. Trends Immunol 26:529–534 2. Ahn SH, Cho YW, Ahn MW et al (2002) mRNA expression of cytokines and chemokines in herniated lumbar intervertebral discs. Spine 27:911–917 3. Albert HB, Kjaer P, Jensen TS et al (2008) Modic changes, possible causes and relation to low back pain. Med Hypotheses 70:361–368 4. Allan DB, Waddell G (1989) An historical perspective on low back pain and disability. Acta Orthop Scand Suppl 234:1–23 5. Balague F, Nordin M, Schafer D et al (2006) The potential value of blood biomarkers of intervertebral disk metabolism in the follow-up of patients with sciatica. Eur Spine J 15:627–633 6. Boden SD, Davis DO, Dina TS et al (1990) Abnormal magnetic-resonance scans of the lumbar spine in asymptomatic subjects. A prospective investigation. J Bone Joint Surg Am 72:403–408 7. Borenstein DG, O’Mara JW Jr, Boden SD et al (2001) The value of magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine to predict low-back pain in asymptomatic subjects: a seven-year follow-up study. J Bone Joint Surg Am 83-A:1306–1311 8. Brisby H, Ashley H, Diwan AD (2007) In vivo measurement of facet joint nitric oxide in patients with chronic low back pain. Spine 32:1488–1492
1.2 Low Back Pain: Where Does the Pain Come From? 9. Brisby H, Olmarker K, Larsson K et al (2002) Proinflammatory cytokines in cerebrospinal fluid and serum in patients with disc herniation and sciatica. Eur Spine J 11:62–66 10. Brisby H, Olmarker K, Rosengren L et al (1999) Markers of nerve tissue injury in the cerebrospinal fluid in patients with lumbar disc herniation and sciatica. Spine 24:742–746 11. Burke JG, GW RW, Conhyea D et al (2003) Human nucleus pulposis can respond to a pro-inflammatory stimulus. Spine 28:2685–2693 12. Byrod G, Otani K, Brisby H et al (2000) Methylprednisolone reduces the early vascular permeability increase in spinal nerve roots induced by epidural nucleus pulposus application. J Orthop Res 18:983–987 13. Carragee EJ, Lincoln T, Parmar VS et al (2006) A gold standard evaluation of the “discogenic pain” diagnosis as determined by provocative discography. Spine 31:2115–2123 14. Cohen SP, Hurley RW (2007) The ability of diagnostic spinal injections to predict surgical outcomes. Anesth Analg 105:1756-1775, table of contents 15. Coppes MH, Marani E, Thomeer RT et al (1997) Innervation of “painful” lumbar discs. Spine 22:2342–2349; discussion 2349–2350 16. Dankaerts W, O’Sullivan P, Burnett A et al (2006) Altered patterns of superficial trunk muscle activation during sitting in nonspecific chronic low back pain patients: importance of subclassification. Spine 31:2017–2023 17. Deyo RA, Weinstein JN (2001) Low back pain. N Engl J Med 344:363–370 18. Gebhardt K, Brenner H, Sturmer T et al (2006) The course of high-sensitive C-reactive protein in correlation with pain and clinical function in patients with acute lumbosciatic pain and chronic low back pain – a 6 months prospective longitudinal study. Eur J Pain 10:711–719 19. Giesecke T, Gracely RH, Grant MA et al (2004) Evidence of augmented central pain processing in idiopathic chronic low back pain. Arthritis Rheum 50:613–623 20. Grachev ID, Fredrickson BE, Apkarian AV (2002) Brain chemistry reflects dual states of pain and anxiety in chronic low back pain. J Neural Transm 109:1309–1334 21. Jensen MC, Brant-Zawadzki MN, Obuchowski N et al (1994) Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine in people without back pain. N Engl J Med 331:69–73 22. Kaigle AM, Wessberg P, Hansson TH (1998) Muscular and kinematic behavior of the lumbar spine during flexionextension. J Spinal Disord 11:163–174 23. Karan A, Karan MA, Vural P et al (2003) Synovial fluid nitric oxide levels in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Clin Rheumatol 22:397–399 24. Kjaer P, Korsholm L, Bendix T et al (2006) Modic changes and their associations with clinical findings. Eur Spine J 15:1312–1319 25. Konttinen YT, Gronblad M, Antti-Poika I et al (1990) Neuroimmunohistochemical analysis of peridiscal nociceptive neural elements. Spine 15:383–386
15 26. Kuisma M, Karppinen J, Niinimaki J et al (2007) Modic changes in endplates of lumbar vertebral bodies: prevalence and association with low back and sciatic pain among middle-aged male workers. Spine 32:1116–1122 27. Le Maitre CL, Hoyland JA, Freemont AJ (2007) Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist delivered directly and by gene therapy inhibits matrix degradation in the intact degenerate human intervertebral disc: an in situ zymographic and gene therapy study. Arthritis Res Ther 9:R83 28. Lim CH, Jee WH, Son BC et al (2005) Discogenic lumbar pain: association with MR imaging and CT discography. Eur J Radiol 54:431–437 29. Moalem G, Tracey DJ (2006) Immune and inflammatory mechanisms in neuropathic pain. Brain Res Rev 51:240–264 30. Moseley GL (2005) Widespread brain activity during an abdominal task markedly reduced after pain physiology education: fMRI evaluation of a single patient with chronic low back pain. Aust J Physiother 51:49–52 31. Olmarker K, Blomquist J, Stromberg J et al (1995) Inflam matogenic properties of nucleus pulposus. Spine 20:665–669 32. Olmarker K, Rydevik B, Nordborg C (1993) Autologous nucleus pulposus induces neurophysiologic and histologic changes in porcine cauda equina nerve roots. Spine 18:1425–1432 33. Palmgren T, Gronblad M, Virri J et al (1999) An immunohistochemical study of nerve structures in the anulus fibrosus of human normal lumbar intervertebral discs. Spine 24: 2075–2079 34. Peng B, Wu W, Hou S et al (2005) The pathogenesis of discogenic low back pain. J Bone Joint Surg Br 87:62–67 35. Riipinen M, Niemisto L, Lindgren KA et al (2005) Psycho social differences as predictors for recovery from chronic low back pain following manipulation, stabilizing exercises and physician consultation or physician consultation alone. J Rehabil Med 37:152–158 36. Roberts S, Eisenstein SM, Menage J et al (1995) Mechano receptors in intervertebral discs. Morphology, distribution, and neuropeptides. Spine 20:2645–2651 37. Schmidt H, Kettler A, Heuer F et al (2007) Intradiscal pressure, shear strain, and fiber strain in the intervertebral disc under combined loading. Spine 32:748–755 38. Sommer C, Lindenlaub T, Teuteberg P et al (2001) AntiTNF-neutralizing antibodies reduce pain-related behavior in two different mouse models of painful mononeuropathy. Brain Res 913:86–89 39. Suenaga S, Abeyama K, Hamasaki A et al (2001) Tempo romandibular disorders: relationship between joint pain and effusion and nitric oxide concentration in the joint fluid. Dentomaxillofac Radiol 30:214–218 40. Takebayashi T, Cavanaugh JM, Cuneyt Ozaktay A et al (2001) Effect of nucleus pulposus on the neural activity of dorsal root ganglion. Spine 26:940–945 41. van Dieen JH, Selen LP, Cholewicki J (2003) Trunk muscle activation in low-back pain patients, an analysis of the literature. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 13:333–351
The Role of Cytokines in the Degenerative Spine
1.3
Björn Rydevik and Helena Brisby
Introduction The intervertebral disc has traditionally been regarded as a biomechanically important structure in the spine, with characteristic biomechanical properties related to both the annulus fibrosus and the nucleus pulposus. However, research performed during the last 15 years has revealed that the intervertebral disc is also biologically active, and the disc cells have been demonstrated to produce different pro-inflammatory cytokines, for example, TNF and various interleukins [7, 18, 22, 24]. These different factors have been shown, in a number of studies, to play important roles in the pathophysiology of disc degeneration and disc herniation. This chapter provides an overview of the role of cytokines in degenerative disorders of the spine.
of one cytokine often initiates a cascade of other cytokines, which may lead to synergistic effects, for example, an active inflammatory reaction. Some cytokines, however, may also act as antagonists and have, e.g. anti-inflammatory effects. The actions of cytokines are also often closely related to other inflammatory substances, for example, nitric oxide (NO). One of the most well-known pro-inflammatory cytokines is tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), often referred to nowadays as just Tumour Necrosis Factor, TNF. TNF has been demonstrated to play a major role in severe inflammatory events such as sepsis and joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis patients [12–14, 25, 37].
TNF and Disc Herniation Cytokines Cytokines constitute a group of small trophic regulatory proteins and can be divided into, for example, growth factors, interleukins and interferones. Cytokines are produced by a large number of different cells throughout the body and participate in inflammatory responses, but also take part in other processes such as immunoreactions, pain regulation and hematopoesis [37]. Cytokines act by binding to specific membrane receptors and influence cells in their close surrounding also at low concentrations. The increased expression
B. Rydevik (*) Department of Orthopaedics, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, 413 45, Gothenburg, Sweden e-mail:
[email protected] The observations by Mixter and Barr in 1934 indicated that sciatica due to lumbar disc herniation was mainly a mechanical problem related to compression of the nerve root by the herniated part of the disc [23]. However, during the last 15 years an alternative concept has gradually evolved pointing out that biological factors related to various components of the intervertebral disc also are of major importance in the pathophysiology of sciatic pain [27]. Olmarker and co-workers demonstrated for the first time that autologous nucleus pulposus in a pig model can induce structural nerve fibre damage as well as decreased spinal nerve conduction velocity [30]. In that study the effects of autologous nucleus pulposus were compared to the effects of autologous retroperitoneal fat in a blinded experimental set-up. These original observations have subsequently been reproduced by other non-related research groups [2, 14, 17, 34]. A series of experimental investigations
M. Szpalski et al. (eds.), Surgery for Low Back Pain, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-04547-9_1.3, © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2010
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have shown that TNF seems to be an important component of the nucleus pulposus in causing the nerve root irritation which renders the nerve root sensitive to mechanic compression, leading to nerve root pain [26, 29, 31]. These pronounced biologic effects of nucleus pulposus are related to the cells of the nucleus pulposus [20]. Local application of exogenous TNF on nerve roots mimics nucleus pulposus induced nerve injury [17]. In a series of investigations it has also been demonstrated that local application of nucleus pulposus or constriction of nerve roots, together with experimental treatment of the animal with anti-TNF substances such as etanercept (a soluble receptor) of infliximab (a chimeric monoclonal antibody), can prevent the nerve root injury effects [29, 32, 39]. Moreover, it has been shown that local application of autologous nucleus pulposus on spinal nerve roots in rats can induce pain behavioural changes and that such pain behavioural changes can be prevented by anti-TNF treatment [28]. Further, in a neurophysiological experimental set-up, nucleus pulposus application onto the dorsal root ganglion has been demonstrated to increase afferent fibre evoked responses in the thalamus within a few minutes, suggesting that nucleus pulposus itself can affect sensory transmitting pathways [5].
Other Cytokines and Disc Herniation In a disc herniation rabbit model, intervertebral disc cells in the created disc herniation have been demonstrated to produce not only tumour necrosis factor, but interleukin-1beta as well, at day 1 after the disc injury [38]. mRNA expressions of different cytokines have also been investigated in human herniated disc specimens from patients undergoing surgery [1]. IL-8, TNFalpha, TGF-beta and IL-1alpha were the most frequently expressed cytokines of those investigated in this study, and were found in 70%, 65%, 50% and 39%, respectively, of the specimens. IL-8 mRNA expression was associated with short symptom duration (average 3.8 weeks) and also associated with provocation of the radiating pain by back extension. The expression of IL-1alpha was found more frequently in transligamentous herniations than in subligamentous herniations. Further, patients with lumbar disc herniation and sciatica of short duration have been shown to have
B. Rydevik and H. Brisby Compression
NP cell Macrophages
CSF Ab
serum
IL-8
TNF
Cytokines
Nerve root dysfunction
Pain
Fig. 1.3.1 Schematic presentation of various events regarding nerve root involvement in conjunction with disc herniation. Nerve root compression and application of nucleus pulposus cause nerve root dysfunction and pain (sciatica). There is evidence for involvement of inflammatory components and activation of the immune system in this process. Biomarkers for inflammation, e.g. IL-8 in CSF and TNF in serum, can be detected. Adapted from Brisby 2000 [3]
increased concentration of IL-8 in the cerebrospinal fluid [3, 6]. These findings support the concept that several inflammatory substances are involved when a disc herniation occurs (see Fig. 1.3.1).
Cytokines and Intervertebral Disc and Facet Joint Degeneration The cells of the intervertebral disc are biologically active, as well as responsive, and increase their production of interleukin-6, prostaglandin E2 and matrix metalloproteinases when stimulated with interleukin-1 [22]. These findings are of particular interest in view of the increased levels of interleukin-1 found in degenerated intervertebral discs [22]. Disc specimens from patients with discogenic low back pain have further been shown to express increased levels of interleukin-6, interleukin-8 and TNF compared to controls [7, 36]. Recently the concentration of TNF in blood samples also was demonstrated to be increased in patients with chronic low back pain compared to controls [35]. Regarding facet joints it has been shown in a rat model that experimentally induced lumbar facet joint inflammation causes mechanical allodynia in the ipsilateral limb and that the number of TNF-alpha
1.3 The Role of Cytokines in the Degenerative Spine
immunoreactive cells in the epidural space was significantly increased compared to controls [33]. Clinical studies have shown increased levels of interleukin-1b in human facet joint tissue from patients undergoing surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis and disc herniation [16]. These studies also demonstrated that the concentrations of interleukin-1b correlated with leg pain, and the authors suggested that interleukin-1b may leak from facet joints to the nerve roots, and thus induce radiating sciatic pain. Another inflammatory substance that is closely related to the presence of cytokines, NO, has recently been demonstrated to be elevated in facet joints in patients with chronic low back pain and facet joint arthrosis when compared to healthy controls [4]. Interestingly, chronic low back pain patients who responded to facet corticosteroid injection with a temporary pain reduction, had higher concentrations of NO in their facet joints than patients who did not respond positively.
Clinical Studies on Anti-TNF Treatment for Disc Herniation Induced Sciatica Based on the basic science research studies regarding the pathophysiology of sciatic pain related to cytokine activation, for example, TNF, clinical research has been conducted investigating these novel therapeutic strategies. The first study to evaluate the use of Infliximab (a TNF-alpha monoclonal antibody) to treat sciatica was published by Karppinen et al. in 2003 [19]. In this study the authors evaluated the effects in 10 patients with severe sciatic pain due to lumbar disc herniation, confirmed by MRI, who were on the waiting list for surgical treatment of the disc herniation. The results were compared to historical controls and comprised 62 patients who received saline in a randomized controlled trial of periradicular infiltration for sciatica. In this study, Karppinen and co-workers showed a statistically significant improvement of leg pain as well as significantly decreased disability up to 12 weeks after treatment. Furthermore, they showed that in the study group there were significantly more patients who were pain free, defined as more than 75% decrease of leg pain from baseline, compared to the controls. Also at four weeks, all of the four patients who were off work in
19
the treated group had returned to work, while in the control group about 40% of the patients were still off work. Genevay and co-workers evaluated the efficacy of etanercept in the treatment of acute severe sciatica in a pilot study in which ten patients received three subcutaneous injections of etanercept (25 mg) every three days [11]. The results were compared to ten historical control patients who received intravenous methylprednisolone for treatment of the same condition. Visual Analogue Scale for leg pain and back pain was evaluated at ten days and 6 weeks. The authors conclude that leg and back pain decrease significantly more with anti-TNF treatment than with intravenous cortisone. Korhonen et al. performed a randomized controlled trial with 1-year follow-up of the treatment effects using infliximab for management of disc herniation induced sciatica [21]. In this study no positive effect was seen when comparing the two groups. However, the authors concluded that “Although the long-term results of this randomized trial do not support the use of infliximab compared to placebo for lumbar radicular pain in patients with disc herniation induced sciatica, further study in a sub-group of patients appears to be warranted”. In particular, the authors noted that at 2 weeks, 33% of the infliximab treated patients reported more than 75% reduction in leg pain by VAS, while only 17% of the control patients reported such reduction in leg pain. Thus, initial clinical studies indicate a possible role of anti-TNF treatment in disc herniation, but clinical studies have provided contradictory results. A recent study by Cohen and co-workers [9] evalutated the effects of epidural etanercept for the treatment of sciatica in a RCT in 24 patients. The study showed positive results of epidural etanercept over a 6 month follow-up period as compared to placebo control (saline).
Cytokines and Spine Surgery It has been shown that patients undergoing micro endoscopic surgery for lumbar disc herniation had less systemic cytokine response as compared to patients who underwent open discectomy [8, 15]. Serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8 and CRP were measured before surgery and up to 24 h post-operatively
20
[15]. Serum IL-6 and CRP increased less significantly following microendoscopic surgery than after open discectomy. The authors conclude that microsurgical approaches are less traumatic to the patients than open discectomy. However, both surgical techniques lead to good clinical results.
Conclusions Experimental and clinical research performed mainly during the last 15 years has provided evidence that cytokines such as TNF and interleukins are involved in the pathophysiology of various spinal pain conditions and that these substances may also be activated by spinal surgery. Moreover, a research-based concept that the intervertebral disc is biologically active and not merely a biomechanically important structure in the spine has gradually evolved during the same period of time. These developments may lead to a better understanding of back pain pathogenesis as well as provide a platform for the development of novel treatment approaches for certain subgroups of patients with back pain. Acknowledgements This review is partly based on research supported by the Swedish Research Council, Project number K2008-53X-20627-01-3, and Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg’s Foundation.
References 1. Ahn SH, Cho YW, Ahn MW et al (2002) mRNA expression of cytokines and chemokines in herniated lumbar intervertebral discs. Spine 27:911–917 2. Anzai H, Hamba M, Onda A et al (2002) Epidural application of nucleus pulposus enhances nociresponses of rat dorsal horn neurons. Spine 27:E50–E55 3. Brisby H (2000) Nerve tissue injury markers, inflammatory mechanisms and immunologic factors in lumbar disc herniation. Clinical and experimental studies: Thesis, Gothenburg University; ISBN 91-628-4380-X 4. Brisby H, Ashley H, Diwan AD (2007) In vivo measurement of facet joint nitric oxide in patients with chronic low back pain. Spine 32:1488–1492 5. Brisby H, Hammar I (2007) Thalamic activation in a disc herniation model. Spine 32:2846–2852 6. Brisby H, Olmarker K, Larsson K et al (2002) Proinflammatory cytokines in cerebrospinal fluid and serum in patients with disc herniation and sciatica. Eur Spine J 11:62–66
B. Rydevik and H. Brisby 7. Burke JG, GW RW, Conhyea D et al (2003) Human nucleus pulposus can respond to a pro-inflammatory stimulus. Spine 28:2685–2693 8. Chao Z, Yue Z, Tong-wei C et al (2007) Microendoscopic discectomy, a less traumatic procedure for lumbar disk herniation. Chin J Traumatol 10:311–314 9. Cohen SP, Bogduk N, Dragovic A et al (2009) Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled dose-response, and preclinical safety study of transforaminal etanercept for the treatment of sciatica. Anaesthesiology 110(5):1116–1126 10. Cuellar JM, Montesano PX, Antognini JF et al (2005) Application of nucleus pulposus to L5 dorsal root ganglion in rats enhances nociceptive dorsal horn neuronal windup. J Neurophysiol 94:35–48 11. Genevay S, Guerne PA, Gabay C (2004) Efficacy of tumor necrosis factor-alpha blockade for severe sciatica? Rev Med Suisse Romande 124:543–545 12. Goldring SR (2002) Bone and joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis: what is really happening? J Rheumatol Suppl 65:44–48 13. Hehlgans T, Pfeffer K (2005) The intriguing biology of the tumour necrosis factor/tumour necrosis factor receptor superfamily: players, rules and the games. Immunology 115:1–20 14. Hotchkiss RS, Karl IE (2003) The pathophysiology and treatment of sepsis. N Engl J Med 348:138–150 15. Huang TJ, Hsu RW, Li YY et al (2005) Less systemic cytokine response in patients following microendoscopic versus open lumbar discectomy. J Orthop Res 23:406–411 16. Igarashi A, Kikuchi S, Konno S (2007) Correlation between inflammatory cytokines released from the lumbar facet joint tissue and symptoms in degenerative lumbar spinal disorders. J Orthop Sci 12:154–160 17. Igarashi T, Kikuchi S, Shubayev V et al (2000) 2000 Volvo Award winner in basic science studies: Exogenous tumor necrosis factor-alpha mimics nucleus pulposus-induced neuropathology. Molecular, histologic, and behavioral comparisons in rats. Spine 25:2975–2980 18. Kang JD, Georgescu HI, McIntyre-Larkin L et al (1996) Herniated lumbar intervertebral discs spontaneously produce matrix metalloproteinases, nitric oxide, interleukin-6, and prostaglandin E2. Spine 21:271–277 19. Karppinen J, Korhonen T, Malmivaara A et al (2003) Tumor necrosis factor-alpha monoclonal antibody, infliximab, used to manage severe sciatica. Spine 28:750–753; discussion 753–754 20. Kayama S, Olmarker K, Larsson K et al (1998) Cultured, autologous nucleus pulposus cells induce functional changes in spinal nerve roots. Spine 23:2155–2158 21. Korhonen T, Karppinen J, Paimela L et al (2005) The treatment of disc herniation-induced sciatica with infliximab: results of a randomized, controlled, 3-month follow-up study. Spine 30:2724–2728 22. Le Maitre CL, Hoyland JA, Freemont AJ (2007) Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist delivered directly and by gene therapy inhibits matrix degradation in the intact degenerate human intervertebral disc: an in situ zymographic and gene therapy study. Arthritis Res Ther 9:R83 23. BJ MWJ (1934) Rupture of the intervertebral disc with involvement of the spinal canal. New Engl J Med 211:210–215
1.3 The Role of Cytokines in the Degenerative Spine 24. Murata Y, Nannmark U, Rydevik B et al (2006) Nucleus pulposus-induced apoptosis in dorsal root ganglion following experimental disc herniation in rats. Spine 31:382–390 25. Okamoto H, Hoshi D, Kiire A et al (2008) Molecular targets of rheumatoid arthritis. Inflamm Allergy Drug Targets 7:53–66 26. Olmarker K, Larsson K (1998) Tumor necrosis factor alpha and nucleus-pulposus-induced nerve root injury. Spine 23: 2538–2544 27. Olmarker K, Myers R, Rydevik B et al (2004) Pathophysiology of nerve root pain in disc herniation and spinal stenosis. In: Wiesel SW et al (eds) The lumbar spine. Lippincott William and Wilkins, Philadelphia, pp 25-39 28. Olmarker K, Nutu M, Storkson R (2003) Changes in spontaneous behavior in rats exposed to experimental disc herniation are blocked by selective TNF-alpha inhibition. Spine 28:1635–1641; discussion 1642 29. Olmarker K, Rydevik B (2001) Selective inhibition of tumor necrosis factor-alpha prevents nucleus pulposus-induced thrombus formation, intraneural edema, and reduction of nerve conduction velocity: possible implications for future pharmacologic treatment strategies of sciatica. Spine 26: 863–869 30. Olmarker K, Rydevik B, Nordborg C (1993) Autologous nucleus pulposus induces neurophysiologic and histologic changes in porcine cauda equina nerve roots. Spine 18: 1425–1432 31. Park MS, Lee HM, Hahn SB et al (2007) The association of the activation-inducible tumor necrosis factor receptor and ligand with lumbar disc herniation. Yonsei Med J 48:839–846
21 32. Sommer C, Schafers M, Marziniak M et al (2001) Etanercept reduces hyperalgesia in experimental painful neuropathy. J Peripher Nerv Syst 6:67–72 33. Tachihara H, Kikuchi S, Konno S et al (2007) Does facet joint inflammation induce radiculopathy?: an investigation using a rat model of lumbar facet joint inflammation. Spine 32:406–412 34. Takebayashi T, Cavanaugh JM, Cuneyt Ozaktay A et al (2001) Effect of nucleus pulposus on the neural activity of dorsal root ganglion. Spine 26:940–945 35. Wang H, Schiltenwolf M, Buchner M (2008) The role of TNF-alpha in patients with chronic low back pain-a prospective comparative longitudinal study. Clin J Pain 24:273–278 36. Weiler C, Nerlich AG, Bachmeier BE et al (2005) Expression and distribution of tumor necrosis factor alpha in human lumbar intervertebral discs: a study in surgical specimen and autopsy controls. Spine 30:44–53; discussion 54 37. Vilcek J (1998) The cytokines: an overview. In: Thomson A (ed) The cytokine handbook, 3rd edn, Chapter 1. Academic Press, San Deigo, pp 1–20 38. Yoshida M, Nakamura T, Sei A et al (2005) Intervertebral disc cells produce tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin1beta, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 immediately after herniation: an experimental study using a new hernia model. Spine 30:55–61 39. Zanella JM, Burright EN, Hildebrand K et al (2008) Effect of etanercept, a tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitor, on neuropathic pain in the rat chronic constriction injury model. Spine 33:227–234
Psychosocial Aspects of Low Back Pain
1.4
Christine Cedraschi and Valérie Piguet
Psychosocial factors have been largely investigated as outcome predictors of surgical interventions and numerous studies have examined the consequences of surgery on psychological variables. These issues have been explored in the context of various surgical procedures: e.g. the need to address the psychosocial profile of the candidates for fusion surgery; or the influence of psychosocial factors in the poor outcomes of lumbar discectomy when morphological problems have been adequately managed by surgery. Psychological distress and depression; pain beliefs, expectations, pain behaviours, and coping strategies; and social factors are reviewed in this chapter with a focus on the role of these aspects in the outcomes of surgery.
Psychological Distress and Depression Psychological distress and depression have received a considerable amount of attention. Results regarding the association between these factors and surgical outcomes are, however, not univocal. Various studies have pointed to the association between depression and poor outcomes of spine surgery (e.g. [30, 40]). A prospective study of psychological predictors of surgery outcome (mostly fusion) showed that lower levels of distress before surgery were associated with work resumption, improved back and leg pain, and functional gains in activities of
C. Cedraschi (*) Division of Internal Medicine for Rehabilitation, Geneva University Hospitals, Rue Gabrielle Perret-Gentil 4, 1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland e-mail:
[email protected] daily living at follow-up, 1 year after surgery [38]. Similarly, emotional health as assessed by the mental component score of the SF-36 was a significant predictor of pain and function outcomes up to 2 years after fusion surgery [39]. Depression was also found to be a significant predictor in terms of pain relief and function [20, 33], as well as of return to work after controlling for preoperative pain and disability in patients undergoing lumbar discectomy [33]. Depression was found to be a consistent predictor of the outcome of surgery as assessed by a composite core index measure for low back pain (LBP) [9] encompassing pain, back-specific function, generic health status, work disability and patient satisfaction [24]. Depression was also a highly influential comorbidity in a large observational study exploring the influence of medical and psychosocial comorbidities on perceived health and disability in patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery [34]. A review of biopsychosocial risk factors for an unfavourable outcome after disc surgery found positive evidence for anxiety and somatisation, but not for depression [7]. The report from the Swedish Lumbar Spine Study comparing the importance of predictors of functional and work status outcome in surgical and non-surgical treatment [16] did not evidence any significant association between depressive symptoms and surgical outcome. The results showed, however, that pre-treatment depressive symptoms predicted improvement in the non-surgical group. Besides, self-rated improvement was associated with a decrease of depressive symptoms in both groups. Similarly, pre-operative psychological distress was not a predictor of the functional status after surgical treatment in Tandon et al.’s study [36], but patients reporting improvement after surgery also showed reduced distress. It has been concluded that depressive symptoms or distress are no obvious contraindications to surgery [24].
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The association between depression or psychological distress and surgical outcome is still an area open for debate. Many LBP patients do not suffer clinical depression and display self-denigratory views and feelings. Clinical depression should therefore be distinguished from depressed mood, which may not fit into a psychopathological model. Divergences in the results regarding the role of psychological distress and depression may be related to various factors such as the diagnosis, the time frame (acute or chronic pain) and also the duration of pain before the intervention with treatment delays increasing the likelihood of poor functional outcome. Data from the literature point to the importance of the ability to rapidly relieve pain which may limit the adverse effects of psychological distress: indeed, no correlation was found between emotional distress, even severe, and poor surgical outcomes in patients suffering acute and subacute sciatica from disc herniation undergoing early surgery [6]. In these patients with a very high chance of dramatic and lasting improvement after surgery, psychological screening failed to predict outcomes, whereas the same psychometric profile predicted worse outcomes in patients with chronic sciatica pain and disability [6].
Beliefs, Behaviours, and Coping Strategies Beliefs are assumptions about reality which serve as a lens through which events are interpreted. As such, they shape the individual’s understanding of his/her environment [21]. Coping includes cognitive, but also behavioural aspects and has been defined as the individual’s endeavour to deal with external and/or internal demands that are appraised as taxing or exceeding the resources of the person [21]. Beliefs about pain, illness and treatment, and coping strategies exist before pain onset, but they are developed when back pain occurs and may be modified by pain persistence or recurrence. Patients’ views and patient-oriented outcomes are increasingly acknowledged, including beliefs about pain and illness, and expectations of treatment. Patients’ expectations have been shown to influence treatment outcomes so that patients with higher expectations of surgery had better outcomes than those with lower expectations [18, 22]. High expectations for physical
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function have been associated with improved function and satisfaction with physical function, but high expectations for pain relief have been associated with greater report of pain and decreased satisfaction with pain relief, suggesting that these expectations should be addressed differently in pre-operative discussions [18]. Similarly, positive expectations for return to work have been associated with higher post-surgical work resumption and increased physical function [32]. However, how far patient expectations predict or influence outcomes is not yet clear, and other data have shown that patients with very high, frequently unrealistic, expectations of recovery, particularly in terms of pain and function, reported less satisfactory outcomes of surgery [25]. Clinically, when it comes to allowing the patient to develop realistic expectations, it is important to provide him/her with information about the treatment and its course, what can reasonably be expected in his/her case, as well as with advice and reassurance about resuming daily activities [26, 27]. Pain behaviours refer to physical or verbal attempts to communicate suffering and disability. In the acute stage, they can be seen as appropriate and adaptive in order to avoid further injury, whereas they have no therapeutic value in the chronic stage. Instead, they perpetuate the patient’s adoption of the sick role and are, therefore, maladaptive. The Swedish Lumbar Spine Study showed no association between pain behaviours and patient global assessment of treatment effects or work status after surgery [16]. Contradictory findings have been reported regarding the predictive value of coping strategies such as “general avoidance” and “search for social support” on the functional status after surgery [17, 19]. As functional outcomes may partly rely on patient self-management and active participation in the recovery process, the identification of cognitive and behavioural factors amenable to change and of treatment strategies favouring these changes is of considerable interest. A randomized trial compared the effectiveness of behavioural graded activity vs usual care provided by physiotherapists following first-time lumbar disc surgery in mostly chronic LBP patients [29]. It was expected that behavioural graded activity would alter fear of movement and pain catastrophising, and thus lead to improved functional status and higher rates of recovery. However, the results did not meet these expectations. Neither fear of movement nor pain catastrophising seemed to be affected by the treatment programmes. Furthermore, no between-group
1.4 Psychosocial Aspects of Low Back Pain
differences were observed regarding functional status, pain, general health, social functioning and return to work. A study investigating the prognosis of multi-factorial outcome in lumbar discectomy showed no significant contribution of pre-operative cognitive reactions to pain and coping strategies to prediction of outcome 6 months post-surgery [20]. Another trial comparing the effectiveness of lumbar fusion surgery associated with post- operative physiotherapy vs a cognitive intervention associated with exercises in patients with chronic LBP showed a decrease of fear-avoidance beliefs in the cognitive intervention group and equal improvements in both groups regarding back pain, use of analgesics, emotional distress, life satisfaction and return to work at 1-year follow-up [5]. Fear-avoidance beliefs before surgery also significantly predicted work loss 6 months post-surgery in a large trial including patients undergoing surgery for various diagnoses [35]. A large prospective cohort study indicated that higher levels of fear of movement and passive pain coping predicted more severe pain and more disability 6 months after surgery [8]. These studies are based on the body of evidence regarding pain-related fear and its mediating role in the initiation and maintenance of chronic disability in musculoskeletal pain, which emphasizes the importance of fear-avoidance and its consequences [41]. Whether and how fear avoidance is associated with outcomes of surgery is unclear. A recent systematic review on fear avoidance and prognosis in prospective inception cohorts of acute LBP patients concluded that while there is some evidence that fear of pain may play a role in chronic LBP, there is little evidence to link fear of pain with poor prognosis at early stages of LBP [31]. The authors contend that emotional processing through fear or catastrophising is not necessary for the outcome of reduced activity. Positive reinforcement from significant others for expressed beliefs and avoidance behaviour would suffice to increase the likelihood of such behaviour without fear [31]. Addressing the role of these aspects in surgical candidates, as well as in post-operative interventions, clearly warrants further investigation.
Social Factors The evaluation of social factors includes variables that originate outside the individual. The measure of these factors may rely on patient self-reports and be coloured
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by subjective perception, thereby blurring the distinction between psychological and social factors. Among the social factors that might contribute to the outcomes of surgery, studies point to the role of spouses or significant others and indicate that reinforcement of pain behaviours by the spouse can reduce spine surgery benefits [12, 33], when the spouse and the family are overprotective and encourage passivity in the patient. However, social support has also been associated with recreational activities, which may contribute to help reducing disability [33]. Job satisfaction has been associated with LBP disability. Similarly, psychological aspects of work, i.e. occupational mental stress, general job satisfaction and job-related resignation, were shown to be related to post-operative pain relief and disability [33]. Various studies have shown the duration of pre-operative work incapacity to be a negative predictor of outcome [11, 16, 19, 38]. A prospective observational study of work status as a predictor of outcome from fusion in patients with discogenic back pain has shown that patients working at the time of surgery had a more than ten times greater likelihood of working at follow-up [1]. Compensation status has often been implicated in the development of chronic LBP. Studies evaluating the role of compensation status on various outcomes of surgery display contradictory results. Pre-operative compensation payments and the presence of a compensation claim were found to be negatively associated with pain relief and physical activity after surgery [14, 37, 39]. However, a 10-year follow-up study indicated that the negative effects of compensation on satisfaction and disability scores results seem to dissipate with time [30]. An intervention study conducted in a social security sickness fund on mandatorily insured patients emphasized the importance of post-operative rehabilitation. This study showed increased return to work rates after lumbar disc surgery when medical advisers applied a rehabilitation programme focused on early mobilization and return to work, rather than the usual claim-based practice [11]. The results of another trial in operatively and nonoperatively managed patients with sciatica showed that patients who had been receiving workers’ compensation at baseline were more likely to be receiving disability benefits and to report less relief from symptoms and improvement in quality of life at the time of follow-up [2]. However, they were only slightly less likely to be working at the time of follow-up. The
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results also showed that patients who had been receiving workers’ compensation at baseline were more likely to be young, male, less educated and involved in physically demanding jobs. These findings parallel those of other studies regarding the association between formal education, back-related disability level and back-related continued disability. Various factors may account for this association between work status and outcomes of treatment. It has been suggested that job characteristics need to be considered (e.g. occupational category and strength requirement of the job, as well as lack of job autonomy or decision latitude, or difficulty in obtaining lighter duties during a back pain episode), and also along with patients’ expectations: patients’ expectation of continued pain was found to be significantly associated with education on the one hand and with continued disability on the other [10]. Similarly, it has been shown that manual workers, especially when unskilled, are less likely to remain in work than those in non-manual occupations if they have a limiting illness. This is all the more so when unemployment rates are high [4]. Hence, work status may be related to factors originating outside the patient or the treatment, such as job characteristics, but also local socio-economic context or sickness and invalidity legislation. Compensation is dependent on the specificities of each health care system [13, 15] and these specificities may account for part of divergences in the results.
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vulnerability, which may in turn be associated with distress. It has indeed been suggested that the patient– physician relationship plays an essential role in the patient’s recovery, encouraging self-care attitudes in the patient rather than reliance on medical intervention only. These characteristics of the clinical situation have been further stressed in the development of an evidence-based booklet for patients undergoing lumbar discectomy and un-instrumented decompression. This booklet aimed to help in removing uncertainty amongst surgeons and patients about post-operative restrictions, reactivation and return to work. It strongly emphasized key messages highlighting the reduction of uncertainty; promotion of positive beliefs; provision of practical advice on self-managemen, and encouraging early reactivation [26]. The patient–physician relationship is of foremost importance to help sort out patients’ perceptions and interpretations of symptoms, which may influence expectations – realistic or unrealistic – and contribute to shape the definition of what a meaningful or acceptable outcome might be [3]. This is even more so when surgical indications remain ill defined (e.g. chronic non-specific lower-back pain) [28]. These outcomes should be mutually acceptable and negotiated with the patient within the framework of a stepwise active approach where patient and clinician discuss goals, treatment outcomes, as well as possible obstacles to recovery.
References Conclusions This overview hints at contradictory findings and also raises comparability issues in terms of type of patients, surgery, time frame, duration of follow-up or outcome measures. Besides, as it is likely that many of these psychological and social variables share predictive variance, their impact can only be determined in multi-causal models. In a recent review, Mannion and Elfering [23] underlined that in view of the evidence it would be injudicious to recommend that patients with a surgically remediable pathology be denied surgery merely on the basis of their presurgical psychological screening. When it comes to clinical considerations, reassurance provided by the physician, personal interest, providing medical information and careful listening are important components in a situation of stress and
1. Anderson PA, Schwaegler PE, Cisek D, Leverson G (2006) Work status as a predictor of surgical outcome of discogenic low back pain. Spine 31:2510–2515 2. Atlas SJ, Chang Y, Kamman E et al (2000) Long-term disability and return to work among patients who have a herniated lumbar disc: the effect of disability compensation. J Bone Joint Surg 82:4–15 3. Balagué F, Mannion AF, Pellisé F, Cedraschi C (2007) Clinical update: low back pain. Lancet 369:726–728 4. Bartley M, Owen C (1996) Relation between socioeconomic status, employment, and health during economic change, 1973–93. BMJ 313:445–449 5. Brox JI, Sorensen R, Friis A et al (2003) Randomized clinical trial of lumbar instrumented fusion and cognitive intervention and exercises in patients with chronic low back pain and disc degeneration. Spine 28:1913–1921 6. Carragee EJ (2001) Psychological screening in the surgical treatment of lumbar disc herniation. Clin J Pain 17: 215–219 7. den Boer JJ, Oostendorp RAB, Beems T et al (2006) A systematic review of bio-psychosocial risk factors for an
1.4 Psychosocial Aspects of Low Back Pain unfavourable outcome after lumbar disc surgery. Eur Spine J 15:527–536 8. den Boer JJ, Oostendorp RAB, Beems T, Munneke M, Evers AVM (2006) Continued disability and pain after lumbar disc surgery: the role of cognitive-behavioral factors. Pain 123: 45–62 9. Deyo RA, Battie M, Beurskens AJHM et al (1998) Outcomes measures for low back pain research. A proposal for standardized use. Spine 23:1003–1013 10. Dionne C, Koepsell TD, Von Korff M et al (1995) Formal education and back-related disability. In search of an explanation. Spine 20:2721–2730 11. Donceel P, Du Bois M, Lahaye D (1999) Return to work after surgery for lumbar disc herniation. Spine 24:872–876 12. Epker J, Block AR (2001) Presurgical psychological screening in back pain patients: a review. Clin J Pain 17:200–205 13. Fordyce WE (ed) (1995) Back pain in the workplace. Management of disability in nonspecific conditions. International Association of the Study of Pain (IASP) Press, Seattle 14. Greenough CG, Peterson MD, Fraser RD (1998) Instrumented posterolateral lumbar fusion. Results and comparison with anterior interbody fusion. Spine 23:479–486 15. Hadler NM (1989) Disabling backache in France, Switzerland, and the Netherlands: contrasting sociopolitical constraints on clinical judgment. J Occup Med 31:823–831 16. Hägg O, Fritzell P, Ekselius L, Nordwall A (2003) Predictors of outcome in fusion surgery for chronic low back pain. Eur Spine J 12:22–33 17. Hasenbring M, Marienfeld G, Kuhlendahl D, Soyka D (1994) Risk factors of chronicity in lumbar disc patients. Spine 19:2759–2765 18. Iversen MD, Daltroy LH, Fossel AH, Katz JN (1998) The prognostic importance of patient pre-operative expectations of surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis. Patient Educ Counsel 34:169–178 19. Junge A, Fröhlich M, Ahrens S et al (1996) Predictors of bad and good outcome of lumbar spine surgery. Spine 21: 1056–1064 20. Kohlboeck G, Greimel KV, Piotrowski WP et al (2004) Prognosis of multifactorial outcome in lumbar discectomy. Clin J Pain 20:455–461 21. Lazarus RS, Folkman S (1984) Stress, appraisal, and coping. Springer, New York 22. Lutz GK, Butzlaff ME, Atlas SJ et al (1999) The relationship between expectations and outcomes in surgery for sciatica. J Gen Intern Med 14:740–744 23. Mannion AF, Elfering A (2006) Predictors of surgical outcome and their assessement. Eur Spine J 15:S93–S108 24. Mannion A, Elfering A, Staerkle R et al (2007) Predictors of multidimensional outcome after spinal surgery. Eur Spine J 16:777–786 25. McGregor AH, Hughes SPF (2002) The evaluation of the surgical management of nerve root compression in patients with low back pain. Part 2: patient expectations and satisfaction. Spine 27:1471–1477
27 26. McGregor AH, Burton AK, Sell P, Waddell G (2007) The development of an evidence-based patient booklet for patients undergoing lumbar discectomy and un-instrumented decompression. Eur Spine J 16:339–346 27. Nordin M, Cedraschi C, Skovron ML (1998) Patient-health care provider relationship in patients with non-specific low back pain: a review of some problem situations. Bailliere’s Clin Rheumatol 12(1):75–92 28. Nordin M, Balagué F, Cedraschi C (2006) Non-specific lower back pain: surgical vs non-surgical management. Clin Orthop Relat Res 443:156–167 29. Ostelo RWJG, de Vet HCW, Vlaeyen JWS et al (2003) Behavioral graded activity following first-time lumbar disc surgery. 1-year results of a randomized clinical trial. Spine 28:1757–1765 30. Penta M, Fraser RD (1997) Anterior lumbar interbody fusion. A minimum 10-year follow-up. Spine 22: 2429–2434 31. Pincus T, Vogel S, Burton AK, Santos R, Field AP (2006) Fear avoidance and prognosis in back pain. A systematic review and synthesis of current evidence. Arthritis Rheum 54:3999–4010 32. Rönnberg K, Lind B, Zoëga B et al (2007) Patients’ satisfaction with provided care/information on clinical outcome after lumbar disc herniation. Spine 32:256–261 33. Schade V, Semmer N, Main CJ, Hora J, Boos N (1999) The impact of clinical, morphological, psychosocial and workrelated factors on the outcome of lumbar discectomy. Pain 80:239–249 34. Slover J, Abdu WA, Hanscom B, Weinstein JN (2006) The impact of comorbidities on the change in Short Form 36 and Oswestry scores following lumbar spine surgery. Spine 31:1974–1980 35. Staerkle R, Mannion AF, Elfering A et al (2004) Longitudinal validation of the fear-avoidance beliefs (FABQ) in a SwissGerman sample of low back pain patients. Eur Spine J 13: 332–340 36. Tandon V, Campbell F, Ross ERS (1999) Posterior lumbar interbody fusion. Association between disability and psychological disturbance in non-compensation patients. Spine 24:1833–1838 37. Taylor VM, Deyo RA, Ciol M et al (2000) Patient-oriented outcomes from low back surgery. A community-based study. Spine 25:2445–2452 38. Trief PM, Grant W, Frederickson B (2000) A prospective study of psychological predictors of lumbar surgery outcome. Spine 25:2616–2621 39. Trief PM, Ploutz-Snyder R, Fredrikson BE (2006) Emotional health predicts pain and function after fusion: a prospective multicenter study. Spine 31:823–830 40. Van Susante J, Van de Schaaf D, Pavlov P (1998) Psychological distress deteriorates the subjective outcome of lumbosacral fusion. A prospective study. Acta Orthop Belg 64:371–377 41. Vlaeyen JW, Linton SJ (2000) Fear-avoidance and its consequences in chronic musculoskeletal pain: a state of the art. Pain 85:317–332
Instability and Low Back Pain
1.5
Tommy Hansson
Instability of the spine has been defined as an abnormal movement in the motion segment as a response to applied loads. The abnormal motion occur due to damage to the motion restraining structures, passive or active such as ligaments, joint capsules, discs and muscles that will alter their ability to withstand otherwise normal loadings. Biomechanical studies of the spine have demonstrated the role of different structures and their ability to provide stability of the motion segments of the spine. Comparison of the normal and unstable vertebral motion segment in vivo as well as in vitro have revealed an insight into intriguing interactions between active and passive providers of stability. The role of the normal neuromuscular control system of the spine and this system’s reactions to injuries influencing upon the stability have attracted more and more interest [5]. Kinematic studies have also indicated that the neutral zone seemed to be a more sensitive parameter than the ROM in documenting instability and destabilization and even restabilization by progressive disc degeneration with osteophyte formation, tendency to fusion or muscle stabilization [14]. A development in three stages of spinal instability in relation to intervertebral joint degeneration was proposed already by Kirkaldy-Willis and Farfan [12]. The proposal of three clinical and biomechanical stages was actually meant for degenerative spondylolisthesis and the stages represented: • Temporary dysfunction • Unstable phase • Stabilization
T. Hansson Department of Orthopaedics, Sahlgrenska Academy, 413 45 Göteborg, Sweden e-mail:
[email protected] The degenerative changes were disc degeneration, facet joints osteoarthritis, ligamentous degeneration, and muscle alterations. The duration of each stage varied greatly, and there were no clear-cut clinical signs or symptoms to distinguish one stage from the next. • The first phase, defined as the temporary dysfunction phase, was associated with slight reversible anatomic changes. • The second, or unstable, phase was characterized by disc height reduction, ligament and joint capsule laxity, and facet joint degeneration. • In the third, or stabilization, phase, osteophytes and marked disc space narrowing lead to stabilization of the motion segment with a reduction (partial or complete) in its ROM, sometimes after spondylolisthesis had already occurred. On the basis of this model, the radiologic observation in at least degenerative spondylolisthesis does not necessarily indicate that intervertebral instability is still present at the time of imaging because a new stabilization may have already occurred. Depending on the actual stage it is reasonable to assume that, if present, the pain mechanisms vary and that the relation between pain and instability will vary as well. Segmental instability of the spine since long has been discussed as one of rather few specific causes of low back pain. Although segmental instability has been extensively studied, discussed and proposed its relation to back pain remain controversial. Certain pathological conditions in the human lumbar spine manifest themselves as abnormal motion between the separate vertebrae. For long it has been assumed that this abnormal motion can be, detected and measured using radiographic techniques [17, 18]. An excessive antero-posterior translation in the sagittal plane predominantly seen on
M. Szpalski et al. (eds.), Surgery for Low Back Pain, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-04547-9_1.5, © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2010
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flexion-extension radiographs has been sought and often taken as a proof of instability. Studies using functional radiography have revealed that around half of the subjects with visible, slight degenerative changes of the intervertebral joint had hyper-mobility noted as retrolisthesis or anterolisthesis. Both entities occurred at the same frequency in the studied population. Among those without visible degenerative changes 2/3 had hyper-mobility and once again with a similar proportion between retro- or anterolisthesis. Radiating sensations down one or both leg also was equally frequent irrespective of type of slip between the vertebrae. A frequent EMG finding was signs of damage to the innervations of the multifidus muscles [16]. Even in a condition like spondylolisthesis, degenerative or isthmic and with it’s A-P-slip it is uncertain whether instability per se is involved in the generation of pain. In other words, despite the fact that definitions as well as detailed explanatory patho-mechanical models have been proposed there seem to remain many more questions than answers in the ongoing “instability” debate.
Radiography and Instability Because of its simplicity, low expense, and wide availability radiography and particularly, functional flexionextension radiography is the most thoroughly studied and the most widely used method in the imaging diagnosis of lumbar intervertebral instability [13]. Certain radiographic findings have been proposed as indicators of vertebral instability are: • Degenerative changes of the intervertebral joint especially of the disc itself are, although still questioned, the radiological finding most commonly related to back pain. The presence of moderate disc degeneration with only slight disc space narrowing and osteosclerosis has been regarded to be a requirement for instability. A marked disc space narrowing on the other hand has been considered to be indicative of the late stabilization phase described by Kirkaldy-Willis and Farfan [12]. • The so called vacuum phenomenon was early suggested as a sign of instability. Excessive intervertebral distraction of the unstable disc was believed to cause a negative intradiskal pressure turning interstitial
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nitrogen into gaseous nitrogen gathering in the turning interstitial nitrogen in the surrounding tissues to become gaseous filling free spaces within the degenerated nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus. • Traction spurs that is the osteophytes located few millimetres from the endplates and oriented horizontally have also been regarded a signs of instability. Tensile stresses exerted by traction in the fibres attaching the anterior longitudinal ligament to the vertebral body are believed to generate this type of osteophyte. While the traction spur is caused by tensile stresses the claw osteophyte is more likely to be caused by compression. This type is associated with restoration of stabilization rather than instability. It is not uncommon to see both types in the same spine. Even the value of provocation in diagnosing lumbar instability has been questioned. When the reliability of provocation radiography during traction-compression combined with flexion-extension was tested in more than 300 patients with suspected instability the findings were inconclusive [15]. In other words in spite of its frequent use no one conclusively has been able to relate radiographically abnormal motion to a specific back problem. There are several explanations for this; • There is a lack of accurate and standardized measurement techniques, • There is no adequate definition of normal motion, • There are large variations in motion between different subjects and different spinal levels, • Radiography is a static measurement device except when used as cine. This means that plain X-ray technique only can reveal abnormal motions occurring at the end points of for example a flexion-extension motion. Movements like flexion-extension in the lumbar spine are directed by an intrinsic neuromuscular system that involves passive structures like the intervertebral disc, ligaments, bone and active structures like muscles and their tendons inclusive. A disorder or injury is likely to disturb the neuromuscular balance and cause dysfunction and/or pain [4]. In back-healthy subjects flexion-extension is a pain-free movement. It is accomplished by appropriately timed excitation of all the involved muscles. During the deeper part of flexion of the lumbar spine several studies have shown that there is a spontaneous
1.5 Instability and Low Back Pain
reduction in electric activity of the erector spinae muscles [2]. This reduction in myoelectric activity was referred to as a “flexion-relaxation” phenomenon. It was suggested that the muscular activity was shut off by signals from receptors in the spinal ligaments stimulated through stretching of them during deep trunk flexion [17]. More recent studies in our group have made this explanation the most plausible for the decreased muscular activity during deep flexion of the lumbar spine [11]. One of many structures stretched during deep flexion is the facet joint capsule known to contain proprioceptors [2]. Experimental studies on our pig model also have demonstrated that stretching of the facet joint capsules illicit inhibitory responses in the lumbar paraspinal muscles [7]. It is likely that structures like the disc, posterior ligaments, fascia as well as stretched but electrically silent muscles provide stability during “the flexionrelaxation” period [2]. Also it has been shown that the more lateral lumbar muscles, the quadratus lumborum and the iliocaostalis were activated whereas the more medial muscles (multifidus) were inactivated during deep and progressive flexion [1]. In other words, the spine is not only guarded by passive structures during deep flexion but by muscles as well, however more laterally located than previously thought of. It is a reasonable assumption that the normal properties of the structures, passive or active making up the intervertebral joint have been changed through injury or degeneration to permit the abnormal motion which defines segmental instability. Since the intervertebral disc and above all the changes caused in the disc by degeneration are keystones to pathological motions in the intervertebral joint this chapter aims at presenting results from kinematic studies but also studies of properties of the intervertebral disc at different grades of degeneration in vitro and in vivo.
Dynamic Loading of the Intervertebral Joint In Vivo As normal as possible rheological conditions are essential in all kinds of biomechanical testing. For that reason the in vivo dynamic stiffness was studied in
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Fig. 1.5.1 The miniaturized servo-hydraulic testing apparatus designed for applying controlled force or displacement in the spine of the anaesthetized animal
intact and injured intervertebral discs of lumbar motion segments subjected to vibratory loading [3, 8]. A porcine model was used that allowed application of a miniaturized servo-hydraulic testing apparatus designed for applying controlled force or displacement in the spine of the anaesthetized animal [8]. The design of the device is based upon two shanks, a mobile and a stationary one, located on the thrust bar [6] (Fig. 1.5.1). The compression induced by this device is an archtype movement rather than a pure axial compression movement. The difference between those two movements is negligible when small movements (3 mm on lateral view static standing radiographs. 2. Angulatory disc space collapse accompanied by translation of the affected vertebra on flexion-extension radiographs 3. Pronounced disc space narrowing (>50% lowering of disc height compared to the nearest disc of normal height). 4. Apparent traction spurs on both sides of the disc. In all but one patient there was just one supposed unstable intervertebral joint. One patient had two possible unstable segments. Both levels were studied in this patient [11]. The suspected levels were; three L2–L3, two L3–L4 and three L4–L5. Two adjacent motion segments were studied in half of the controls. Using continuous measuring techniques, the muscular behaviour could be precisely defined in relation to the segmental motion throughout the flexionextension movement the subjects performed (Fig. 1.5.5). An identical protocol was used in six volunteers, the control group, without any recent (>3 months) back problems. The patient group consisted o four men and three women (mean age 51.4, range 46–56 years). The control group was made up of three men and three women with a mean age of 40.5, range 38–48 years [11].
The Pattern of Motion in Patients with Clinically Suspected Segmental Instability
IMD in Humans
The POM, the muscular activity and the overall trunk motion were determined during dynamic flexion-extension in seven patients with chronic low back pain. Their pain was supposedly caused by changes that might affect the stability of at least one intervertebral joint in the lumbar spine. Their supposed segmental instability diagnosis was on pain history, clinical findings and pronounced radiographic changes, in at least one of the L2–L3, L3–L4, L4–L5 or L5–S1 intervertebral joints. The pain history included sudden stabbing pain episodes especially during certain movements of the spine and typically when the spine was not “guarded”. The patients also had difficulties in flexing the lumbar spine or when rising from a flexed position. All the patients had at least two of the four following radiographic criteria on the suspected level.
K-wires (2.6 mm diameter) were rigidly fixed under surgical conditions to the neighbouring spinous processes on the actual vertebral level. The IMD was then secured to the pins (Fig. 1.5.2). In subjects in whom two segments were tested the caudal motion segment was first tested [11]. The trunk flexion-extension angle was simultaneously measured during the flexion-extension protocol using an electronic goniometer attached to the side of the upper right arm of the subject. During testing the subject was instructed to hold the arms and hands firmly against the chest and to maintain a constant position during the flexion-extension. Testing was first performed without and any external loads and then repeated while the subjects held 5 kg weight in the hands against the chest (Fig. 1.5.5).
1.5 Instability and Low Back Pain
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which the direction of the movement was reversed passing through the neutral position and continued until maximum extension was reached and then returned to the neutral position.
Kinematics in the Experimental Clinical Study For all three kinematic variables, sagittal rotation, axial translation and shear translation, the ranges of motion were significantly less, at least 50%, among the patients than among the controls. The controls also flexed and extended their trunks more than the patients. As in the animal models the maximum ROM did not necessarily occur at the endpoints, why the maximum range not always was equal to the end ROM. This was especially pronounced for the axial translation and here more for the patients than for the controls. There were many differences in the POM between patients and controls. Overall it was found that the patients displayed less intervertebral motion than the controls and especially so in flexion. Even the axial translation motion was less in the patients [11]. Fig. 1.5.5 The IMD fixed to two lumbar spinous processes while the patient is extending the spine (fixed pelvis) with 5 kg weight in the hands
EMG Recording The electromyographic EMG activity of the lumbar erector spinae muscles was recorded during the flexion-extension from two sets of surface electrodes placed bilaterally to the L3–L4 inter space and 3 cm lateral to the spinous process recording signals from the lumbar part of the longissimus thoracis´lumbar fibres.
Flexion-Extension Movement When performing the flexion-extension protocol the subjects were asked to maintain sagittal plane symmetry of the body. Beginning from an erect standing posture the subject bent forward as deep as possible after
EMG Behaviour For the controls under forward flexion the EMG activity increased to a maximal value. After that max value a progressive decrease in myolelectric activity occurred to full trunk flexion i.e. flexion-relaxation phenomenon. From full flexion the EMG activity increased dramatically to a maximal value, and therefore decreased to practically no activity in full extension. In the patients the EMG activity increased but not as much or to a peak value as in the controls. This meant that there was no flexion-relaxation. From full flexion the pattern in the patients were relatively similar to that in the controls. This study showed that intervertebral motion was significantly less, by at least 50% in the patients with chronic low back pain and supposedly due to segmental instability. Trunk flexion and extension were also significantly reduced in the patients. In the control group flexion-relaxtion was demonstrated by a 78% increase in EMG activity. Most of the patients
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demonstrated on the other hand absolutely no flexion-relaxation. Flexion-relaxation in the controls occurred in those where intervertebral rotation had reached a stage of completion before maximum trunk flexion was achieved [11].
Conclusions These studies of experimental and clinical segmental instability have given several not expected results. • Disc degeneration changed the dynamic biomechanical properties of the intervertebral disc significantly. The axial stiffness showed the greatest differences between degenerated and non-degenerated discs suggesting the possibilities of an axial instability. • Dynamic measurements of the intervertebral joint demonstrated that the POM revealed more and other motions than what have been found with static techniques. Changes in the axial direction had the greatest magnitude. • Specific experimental injuries to the intervertebral joint, mimicking among others severe disc degeneration created specific POM. • Patients with clinical segmental instability demonstrated less motion in all directions of the suspected intervertebral joint than back-healthy controls. • The patients with chronic low back pain supposedly due to segmental instability showed no flexionrelaxtion phenomenon. • Our results suggested that a “protective” long-standing back muscle activity rather than an increased motion per se is the most likely pain mechanism in “segmental instability”.
References 1. Andersson EA, Oddsson LI, Grundstrom H, Nilsson J, Thorstensson A (1996) EMG activities of the quadratus lumborum and erector spinae muscles during flexion-relaxation and other motor tasks. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 11:392– 400. DOI 0268003396000332 [pii] 2. Cavanaugh JM, Ozaktay AC, Yamashita HT, King AI (1996) Lumbar facet pain: biomechanics, neuroanatomy and neurophysiology. J Biomech 29:1117–1129. doi:0021929096000231 [pii]
T. Hansson 3. Ekstrom L, Kaigle A, Hult E, Holm S, Rostedt M, Hansson T (1996) Intervertebral disc response to cyclic loading–an animal model. Proc Inst Mech Eng [H] 210:249–258 4. Hodges P, Holm AK, Hansson T, Holm S (2006) Rapid atrophy of the lumbar multifidus follows experimental disc or nerve root injury. Spine 31:2926–2933. doi:10.1097/01.brs. 0000248453.51165.0b00007632-200612010-00008 [pii] 5. Hodges P, Kaigle Holm A, Holm S, Ekstrom L, Cresswell A, Hansson T, Thorstensson A (2003) Intervertebral stiffness of the spine is increased by evoked contraction of transversus abdominis and the diaphragm: in vivo porcine studies. Spine 28:2594–2601. doi:10.1097/01.BRS.0000096676.14323.25 6. Hult E, Ekstrom L, Kaigle A, Holm S, Hansson T (1995) In vivo measurement of spinal column viscoelasticity–an animal model. Proc Inst Mech Eng [H] 209:105–110; discussion 135 7. Indahl A, Kaigle AM, Reikeras O, Holm SH (1997) Interaction between the porcine lumbar intervertebral disc, zygapophysial joints, and paraspinal muscles. Spine 22: 2834–2840 8. Kaigle A, Ekstrom L, Holm S, Rostedt M, Hansson T (1998) In vivo dynamic stiffness of the porcine lumbar spine exposed to cyclic loading: influence of load and degeneration. J Spinal Disord 11:65–70 9. Kaigle AM, Holm SH, Hansson TH (1997) 1997 Volvo Award winner in biomechanical studies. Kinematic behavior of the porcine lumbar spine: a chronic lesion model. Spine 22:2796–2806 10. Kaigle AM, Pope MH, Fleming BC, Hansson T (1992) A method for the intravital measurement of interspinous kinematics. J Biomech 25:451–456 11. Kaigle AM, Wessberg P, Hansson TH (1998) Muscular and kinematic behavior of the lumbar spine during flexionextension. J Spinal Disord 11:163–174 12. Kirkaldy-Willis WH, Farfan HF (1982) Instability of the lumbar spine. Clin Orthop Relat Res 165:110–123 13. Leone A, Guglielmi G, Cassar-Pullicino VN, Bonomo L (2007) Lumbar intervertebral instability: a review. Radiology 245:62–77. doi:245/1/62 [pii] 10.1148/radiol.2451051359 14. Panjabi MM (2003) Clinical spinal instability and low back pain. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 13:371–379. doi:S1050641103000440 [pii] 15. Pitkanen M, Manninen HI, Lindgrer KA, Turunen M, Airaksinen O (1997) Limited usefulness of traction-compression films in the radiographic diagnosis of lumbar spinal instability. Comparison with flexion-extension films. Spine 22:193–197 16. Sihvonen T, Lindgren KA, Airaksinen O, Manninen H (1997) Movement disturbances of the lumbar spine and abnormal back muscle electromyographic findings in recurrent low back pain. Spine 22:289–295 17. Sihvonen T, Partanen J, Hanninen O, Soimakallio S (1991) Electric behavior of low back muscles during lumbar pelvic rhythm in low back pain patients and healthy controls. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 72:1080–1087 18. Soini J, Antti-Poika I, Tallroth K, Konttinen YT, Honkanen V, Santavirta S (1991) Disc degeneration and angular movement of the lumbar spine: comparative study using plain and flexion-extension radiography and discography. J Spinal Disord 4:183–187
Part Diagnosis
II
Dynamic MRI of the Spine
2.1
J. J. Abitbol, Soon-Woo Hong, Sana Khan, and Jeffrey C. Wang
Introduction Spinal imaging is one of the most important diagnostic tools for assessing spine pathologies. The advent of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) allowed much more detailed evaluation of musculoskeletal injuries including the spine. However, because of the structural limitations of MRI equipment, patient scanning has been limited to supine or prone positions without weight-bearing, which renders static images in fixed positions. Specifically, dynamic evaluation of the spine with functional loading has not been possible. Dynamic imaging with positional changes in a closed MRI has been attempted to evaluate structures in the functional spinal unit [1–4]. Using a closed MRI, Muhle et al. [2] reported an increase in the rate of detecting spinal stenosis in the extension position. In addition, other studies have demonstrated significant anatomical variation between neutral, flexion, or extension positions. Axial loaded images, with positional change, can precisely assess pathology by simulating daily functional states allowing symptom-specific patient positioning while scanning. The recent introduction of a front-open Kinetic MRI (kMRI) system eliminates the limitations of closed, static, single-position MRI. Changing patient positioning frequently affects spinal symptoms and pathology. Increased symptom(s) severity may present only when the patient is in a specific position and may disappear upon position change. Spinal nerve compromise, spinal cord compression, or cauda equina can
J. J. Abitbol (*) California Spine Group, 5395 Ruffin Road, Suite 103, San Diego, CA 92123, USA e-mail:
[email protected] affect structures in the functional unit such as the facet joints or musculature. Kinetic MRI provides physicians with information according to the patient’s position and can reveal pathology previously not identified by conventional MRI. A variety of methods have been employed to evaluate spinal kinematics. Imaging modalities include plain radiographs, fluoroscopy, CT scan, and MRI – all of which are frequently utilized for kinematic evaluation of the functional unit. Currently, the most precise and reliable method involves a cadaveric model. Kinetic MRI provides images of positional changes combined with loading and is the best method for evaluating in vivo biomechanics.
Contents Technical Aspects Kinetic MRI consists of two vertically-oriented doughnut-shaped magnetic coils with a gap. The machine is a mid-field 0.6 T Magnet. A mid-field scanner is optimal for positional imaging since the highfield system is more susceptible to motion artifact and may increase scan time. The front-open design of the kinetic MRI affords varied patient positioning during imaging. To maintain patient positioning during longer imaging, assistive devices or equipments are utilized. Except for serial changes in the frontal plane, both sagittal and axial planes can be imaged. This allows flexion-distraction or axial rotation. Such positional changes allow spinal loading if the patient is not supine. Axial and sagittal image cuts can be acquired as with conventional static MRI. Although processing
M. Szpalski et al. (eds.), Surgery for Low Back Pain, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-04547-9_2.1, © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2010
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time is longer (currently), in some settings, collected data can be displayed 3-dimensionally, thereby representing the patient’s anatomy and movement.
Diagnostic Aspects Weight-Bearing The spine’s weight-bearing capacity, such as during standing and sitting, is an important function to evaluate. Many symptoms occur and/or are aggravated during weight-bearing. Conventional supine MRI imaging may not reveal the pathology related to one or more symptoms. Utilizing kinetic MRI provides more reliable and suitable information to accurately diagnose musculoskeletal disorders affected by weight-bearing.
J. J. Abitbol et al.
[6] reported that posterior disk height decreased with weight-bearing in advanced grade 3 and 4 disk degeneration. This means disk degeneration is more sensitive to change in disk height during axial loading and corresponds to size change of the neural foramen. In addition, seated position with axial loading increased intradiscal pressure. Therefore, disk instability secondary to degeneration may lead to greater posterior protrusion and pain. Diagnosis of disk herniation could be better evaluated if the patient assumes a full flexionextension position. Zamani et al. [7] found annular bulging in 27% of disks in the erect extended position with the presence of disk degeneration that increased to 40%. Disk herniation is understood to be a common cause of nerve root compression. In a clinical scenario, localizing pain can be difficult, especially in cases of multilevel involvement. Gilbert et al. [8] demonstrated that underestimating the level of disk involvement may mask a major lesion site.
Flexion and Extension Diagnostic evaluation of motion in the axial and sagittal planes is important, as symptoms may be influenced or aggravated upon positional change. Unlike kinetic MRI, other imaging methods are limited in demonstrating motion-related abnormalities.
Disk Morphology Disk degeneration accompanies aging and some spinal disorders. Age-dependent changes in disk morphology are closely correlated with progressive disk degeneration [5]. Signal changes in the nucleus pulposus using T2-weighted imaging is well-known in the evaluation of disk degeneration. While several grading systems have been developed to assess the severity of disk degeneration, the histological grading system using MRI images is considered to be the most accurate. Kinetic MRI can be used to assess disk degeneration, as well as examine related morphologic and kinematic changes. While discography is useful to evaluate symptomatic disk degeneration, patients are exposed to radiation and a needle-invasive procedure. During discography, position change or axial loading can induce pain. Kinetic MRI can produce similar evaluative results noninvasively. Kinetic MRI can evaluate morphological change(s) caused by progressive disk degeneration. Karadimas et al.
Spinal Canal and Intervertebral Foramen Spinal canal diameter is closely associated with spinal stenosis and myelopathy. Symptoms of these disorders are relatively sensitive to positional change(s). Vitaz et al. [9] suggested that kinetic MRI is suitable for evaluating degenerative cervical myelopathy. Muhle et al. [1] reported a correlation between the degenerative stage and cervical myelopathy through kinetic MRI imaging. That study demonstrated that functional cord impingement at extension also increased with advanced degeneration. Studies of spinal canal diameter during flexion-extension, while utilizing kinetic MRI, showed statistically significant difference in both cervical [9] and lumbar [10] regions. With advancing age, spinal stenosis increases and frequently presents at multiple levels. An appropriate treatment plan is dependent on precise diagnosis of the level(s) affected by spinal stenosis. Although static MRI may obtain information about multilevel stenosis, many surgeons defer to myelography for accurate preoperative planning. Myelography provides well-localized imaging of dural compression, which may be comparable to intraoperative findings [11]. In a report comparing kinetic MRI to myelography, in the diagnosis of lumbar spinal stenosis, both imaging modalities were closely correlated. However,
2.1 Dynamic MRI of the Spine
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kinetic MRI is preferred for patients since it is less painful, noninvasive, and has considerable lower risk for complications. Cross-sectional analysis of the disk level is another assessment method. In vitro studies using CT showed a significant reduction of the cross-sectional area of the spinal canal at extension when compared with flexion [12, 13], or at axial loading [14]. However, CT does not demonstrate any difference in ligamentum flavum thickness. Schmid et al. [15] demonstrated the measurement of the cross-sectional area in asymptomatic volunteers showed significant differences during flexion and extension using kinetic MRI. This study quantitatively proved that the thickness of the ligamentum flavum increased at extension with statistical significance. In a study using kinetic MRI, Weishaupt et al. [16] postulated that the cross-sectional area uniformly decreased at extension regardless of the extent of disk herniation. Foraminal neural compression can be predicted by measuring the cross-sectional area of the neural foramina. Positional changes proved to significantly affect measurement of the neural foramina in a pattern similar to the central canal area, which showed increase at flexion and decrease at extension [13, 15, 17, 18]. A morphometric cadaver study by Mayoux-Benhamou et al. [19] postulated that such reduction of neural foraminal size at extension can result from three anatomical changes: reduction of vertical height with pedicles closer, decreased width of the upper foramen by separation and ascent of the upper extremity of the inferior articular facet with bulging of the capsule and ligamentum flavum, and decreased width of the lower foramen by the associated disk bulge. Compared with supine imaging, nerve root contact, without deviation, increases in frequency during loaded flexion and extension views in kinetic MRI. This means that kinetic MRI may provide additional information in select patients with equivocal findings of nerve root compromise on supine MRI, or upon strong suspicion of dynamic nerve root compromise in the upright extended position [16, 20].
Electromyography, ultrasonography, histopathology, and static MRI have been used to study the paraspinal muscles. However, dynamic MRI can provide more information in relation to morphology and biomechanics. Jorgensen et al. [21] reported that the cross-sectional area of the back muscles at L4–L5 and L5-S1 decreased by different percentages as the torso moved from neutral to 45° of flexion in the sagittal plane. This suggests that the lumbar back muscles may not be uniformly lengthening during torso flexion.
Paraspinal Muscles
Biomechanical Aspects and Intraoperative and Postoperative Evaluation
The role of the paraspinal muscles in relation to low back pain remains unclear. However, atrophy of the paraspinal muscles may accompany pathologies such as disk herniation, spinal stenosis, and spondylolisthesis.
Ligaments Thickness of the ligamentum flavum has been frequently evaluated in relation to spinal stenosis [13, 15, 18]. However, in acute traumatic conditions, other ligaments may be important. Ignelzi [22] reported four cases where kinetic MRI was used to assess acute cervical trauma. Though fractures demonstrated on plain X-ray or CT alone may not be indicative of spinal instability, that information, combined with MRI demonstrating ligamentous injury, provided a high index for instability, which was important for clinical decisions.
Facet Joints The function spinal unit consists of three joint complexes, one intervertebral disk and two facet joints. Facet joints play an important role in segmental stability and biomechanics and are best visualized on axial images. In a study comparing normal volunteers to patients with disk herniation, it was demonstrated that the facet angle in patients is uniformly decreased in the lower lumbar spine, such as L3-L4, L4-L5, and L5-S1 [23]. Bony structures, such as the facet joints, are better visualized using CT, rather than MRI. However, recent advances in MRI demonstrated images acceptable to accurately assess degenerative facet joint change(s) when compared with CT [24].
The definition of instability remains unclear and may be due to unknowns related to biomechanics of the functional spinal unit in vivo. Kinetic MRI’s positional
42
imaging capability is a significant advancement in analyzing in vivo biomechanics.
Translational Motion For instability assessment, translation and angular motion are considered to be important parameters. Segmental motion in the sagittal plane in relation to instability has frequently been studied using flexionextension radiographs and fluoroscopy. However, high radiation exposure and low accuracy may limit the use of radiography and fluoroscopy. When kinetic MRI is employed, these parameters are measurable without radiation and render soft tissue structures in great detail. In some patients with spondylolisthesis, a supine static MRI may miss the diagnosis, although the spondylolisthesis is demonstrated on plain standing radiographs. In a study of healthy subjects, McGregor et al. [25] reported reliable and repeatable translation motion using kinetic MRI. They demonstrated that anterolisthesis occurs in flexion and retrolisthesis in extension. Using kinetic MRI, dynamic instability has been detected with the same criteria as in simple radiographs. However, kinetic MRI also allowed simultaneous analysis of soft tissue relationships, such as spinal cord compression, with the instability [9]. Disk degeneration and segmental motion have been studied using simple radiographs, discograms [26], MRI images [27–29], and cadaveric studies [30–32]. In these studies, no statistically significant correlation between translational motion and disk degeneration has been found [27, 29, 33, 34]. In a report where kinetic MRI was utilized, no significant difference in translational motion among normal subjects and patients with spondylolisthesis was shown [35].
J. J. Abitbol et al.
Vitzthum et al. [24] reported dynamic examination of the lumbar spine comparing normal volunteers and patients with disk herniation using kinetic MRI. Segmental angular motion was found to decrease when disk herniation appeared in the lower lumbar levels. Karadimas et al. [6] demonstrated that segmental angular motion decreased with increased disk degeneration in patients with chronic low back pain using kinetic MRI. This result was in accord with a study wherein flexion-extension radiographs and static MRI was conducted by Murata et al. [29]. Their lumbar lordosis study did not show a significant difference between conventional and kinetic MRI.
Axial Rotation Axial rotation can be examined using kinetic MRI. Many reports where cadavers were used describe axial rotation. However, few studies exist using kinetic MRI. In an in vitro study by Fujiwara et al. [38], static MRI and flexion-extension radiographs demonstrated axial rotation increased to grade 4 with disk degeneration. However, axial rotation decreased where disk degeneration was grade 5, a worse grade level. The study using kinetic MRI, conducted by Vitzthum et al. [24], demonstrated that segmental axial rotation increased in the disk herniation group as compared to the normal group.
Lateral Bending The study of lateral bending, using kinetic MRI, is limited and may be due to technical difficulties and lower clinical usability.
Study Effects of Dynamic Stabilization Angular Motion Using kinetic MRI, Harvey et al. [36] demonstrated that lordosis and flexion in the lumbosacral spine had linear correlation with age in healthy subjects. McGregor et al. [25] reported that segmental angular motion had the greatest value in the lower lumbar levels, specifically L4-L5 and L5-S1. The least amount of motion occurred at the L1-L2 junction. These results were similar to a study using 3-dimensional radiography [37].
Dynamic stabilization of the functional unit is a current trend in spine surgery. Motion-preserving surgeries, such as arthroplasty and dynamic fixation, are popular. Kinetic MRI is capable of evaluating motion characteristics in patients. Exact evaluation before and after motion-preserving surgery is still unclear and may be resolved in the future to some extent by using kinetic MRI. Postoperatively, the spine may best be analyzed using kinetic MRI in patients who have previously undergone
2.1 Dynamic MRI of the Spine
an instrumented or uninstrumented intersegmental fusion. Using kinetic MRI, Jinkins et al. [39] demonstrated that hypermobile intersegmental spinal instability may occur adjacent to levels of a stable fusion. Siddiqui et al. [40, 41] reported changes in the cross-sectional area of the spinal canal and intervertebral foramen before and after X-STOP® (Kyphon Inc., Sunnyvale, CA USA) in vivo implantation and confirmed adequate nerve decompression using this device. In a postoperative biomechanical study related to X-STOP® and Dynesys® (Zimmer, Inc., Warsaw, IN USA) implantation, where kinetic MRI [42, 43] was utilized, segmental motion decreased and posterior disk height increased at the device level. Intraoperatively, open MRI allows direct surgical access to the stationary patient during imaging. It provides all of the advantages of conventional MR imaging, including multiplanar acquisition and excellent definition of soft anatomy. Woodard et al. [44] reported that intraoperative MRI provided accurate and rapid localization and confirmed the adequacy of decompression in the majority of the 12 spine surgery cases studied. Verheyden et al. [45] employed open MRI during surgery and demonstrated that positioning of screws into the pedicle was secure and the degree of indirect reduction of the vertebral posterior wall could be immediately imaged.
Limitations Although open kinetic MRI provides excellent imaging during motion in the sagittal and axial planes, dynamic imaging of the coronal plane is limited. It is difficult to obtain sufficient information when severely deformed patients, such as those with scoliosis, are imaged. Kinetic MRI’s mid-range magnetic field may be another limiting factor. The magnetic field is 0.6 T and some soft tissue structures are better visualized using high-field 1.5 T static MRI. Therefore, surgical planning based on open kinetic MRI should be carefully decided based on the pathology being addressed (e.g., brain tumor resection vs. discectomy) [46]. To obtain precise information using kinetic MRI, it may require positioning patients to induce or aggravate symptoms. Since it takes longer to produce images using kinetic MRI, patient discomfort and blurred images (when movement occurs during imaging) can occur.
43
Conclusions Although conventional static MRI, with the patient positioned supine, remains a useful imaging method to assess degenerative spinal diseases, it can miss an occult herniated disk, stenosis, or instability visualized using kinetic MRI. Therefore, kinetic MRI can be performed in patients with equivocal findings on conventional MRI, or those whose symptoms alter with positional change. Kinetic MRI has the potential to evaluate in vivo biomechanical changes both preoperatively and postoperatively. With continued advancement in understanding the utilization of positional imaging, kinetic MRI may become a more meaningful imaging modality for various other conditions.
References 1. Muhle C, Metzner J, Weinert D et al (1998) Classification system based on kinematic MR imaging in cervical spondylitic myelopathy. ANJR Am J Neuroradiol 19:1763–1771 2. Muhle C, Weinert D, Falliner A et al (1998) Dynamic changes of the spinal canal in patients with cervical spondylosis at flexion and extension using magnetic resonance imaging. Invest Radiol 33:444–449 3. Chung SS, Lee CS, Kim SH et al (2000) Effects of low back posture on the morphology of the spinal canal. Skeletal Radiol 29:217–223 4. Chen CJ, Hsu HL, Niu CC et al (2003) Cervical degenerative disease at flexion-extension MR imaging: prediction criteria. Radiology 227:136–142 5. Boden SD, Davis DO, Dina TA et al (1990) Abnormal magnetic-resonance scans of the lumbar spine in asymptomatic subjects. A prospective investigation. J Bone Joint Surg Am 72:403–408 6. Karadimas EJ, Siddiqui M, Smith FW et al (2006) Positional MRI changes in supine versus sitting postures in patients with degenerative lumbar spine. J Spinal Disord Tech 19: 495–500 7. Zamani AA, Moriarty T, Hsu L et al (1998) Functional MRI of the lumbar spine in erect position in a superconducting open-configuration MR system; preliminary results. J Magn Reson Imaging 8:1329–1333 8. Gilbert JW, Wheeler GR, Lingreen RA et al (2006) Open stand-up MRI: a new instrument for positional neuroimaging. J Spinal Disord Tech 19:151–154 9. Vitaz TW, Shields CB, Raque GH et al (2004) Dynamic weight-bearing cervical magnetic resonance imaging: technical review and preliminary results. South Med J 97: 456–461 10. Wildermuth S, Zanetti M, Duewell D et al (1998) Lumbar spine: quantitative and qualitative assessment of positional (upright flexion and extension) MR imaging and myelography. Radiology 207:391–398
44 11. Bell GR, Ross JS (1992) Diagnosis of nerve root compression. Myelography, computed tomography, and MRI. Orthop Clin North Am 23:405–419 12. Schonstrom N, Lindahl S, Willen J et al (1989) Dynamic changes in the dimensions of the lumbar spinal canal: an experimental study in vitro. J Orthop Res 7:115–121 13. Inufusa A, An HS, Lim TH et al (1996) Anatomic changes of the spinal canal and intervertebral foramen associated with flexion-extension movement. Spine 21:2410–2412 14. Nowicki BH, Yu S, Reinartz J et al (1990) Effect of axial loading on neural foramina and nerve roots in the lumbar spine. Radiology 176:433–437 15. Schmid MR, Stucki G, Duewell S et al (1999) Changes in cross-sectional measurements of the spinal canal and intervertebral foramina as a function of body position: in vivo studies on an open-configuration MR system. AJR Am J Roentgenol 172:1095–1102 16. Weishaupt D, Schmid MR, Zanetti M et al (2000) Positional MR imaging of the lumbar spine: does it demonstrate nerve root compression not visible at conventional MR imaging? Radiology 215:247–253 17. Nowicki BH, Haughton VM, Schmidt TA et al (1996) Occult lumbar lateral spinal stenosis in neural foramina subjected to physiologic loading. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 17: 1605–1614 18. Fujiwara A, An HS, Lim TH et al (2001) Morphologic changes in the lumbar intervertebral foramen due to flexionextension, lateral bending, and axial rotation: an in vitro anatomic and biomechanical study. Spine 26:876–882 19. Mayoux-Benhamou MA, Revel M, Aaron C et al (1989) A morphometric study of the lumbar foramen. Influence of flexion-extension movements and of isolated disc collapse. Surg Radiol Anat 11:97–102 20. Weishaupt D, Boxheimer L (2003) Magnetic resonance imaging of the weight-bearing spine. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol 7:277–286 21. Jorgensen MJ, Marras WS, Gupta P (2003) Cross-sectional area of the lumbar back muscles as a function of torso flexion. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 18:280–286 22. Ignelzi RJ (1993) The potential role of low field MR with open design in assessing ligamentous injury in acute cervical trauma. Surg Neurol 39:519–529 23. Vitzthum HE, Konig A, Seifert V (2000) Dynamic examination of the lumbar spine by using vertical, open magnetic resonance imaging. J Neurosurg 93:58–64 24. Weishaupt D, Zanetti M, Boos N et al (1999) MR imaging and CT in osteoarthritis of the lumber facet joints. Skeletal Radiol 28:215–219 25. McGregor AH, Anderton L, Gedroyc WM et al (2004) Assessment of spinal kinematics using open interventional magnetic resonance imaging. Clin Orthop Relat Res (392): 341–348 26. Soini J, Antti-Poika I, Tallroth K et al (1991) Disc degeneration and angular movement of the lumbar spine: comparative study using plain and flexion-extension radiography and discography. J Spinal Disord 4:183–187 27. Paajanen H, Erkintalo M, Dahlstrom S et al (1989) Disc degeneration and lumbar instability. Magnetic resonance examination of 16 patients. Acta Orthop Scand 60:375–378
J. J. Abitbol et al. 28. Burton AK, Battie MC, Gibbons L et al (1996) Lumbar disc degeneration and sagittal flexibility. J Spinal Disord 9: 418–424 29. Murata M, Morio Y, Kuranobu K (1994) Lumbar disc degeneration and segmental instability: a comparison of magnetic resonance images and plain radiographs of patients with low back pain. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 113:297–301 30. Nachemson AL, Schultz AB, Berkson MH (1979) Mechanical properties of human lumbar spine motion segments. Influence of age, sex, disc level, and degeneration. Spine 4:1 31. Mimura M, Panjabi MM, Oland TR et al (1994) Disc degeneration affects the multidirectional flexibility of the lumbar spine. Spine 19:1371–1380 32. Tanaka N, An HS, Lim TH et al (2001) The relationship between disc degeneration and flexibility of the lumbar spine. Spine J 1:47–56 33. Pitkanen MT, Manninen HI, Lindren KA et al (2002) Segmental lumbar spine instability at flexion-extension radiography can be predicted by conventional radiography. Clin Radiol 57:632–639 34. Axelsson P, Karlsson BS (2004) Invertebral mobility in the progressive degenerative process. A radiostereometric analysis. Eur Spine J 13:567–572 35. McGregor AH, Anderton L, Gedroyc WM et al (2002) The use of interventional open MRI to assess the kinematics of the lumbar spine in patients with spondylolisthesis. Spine 27:1582–1586 36. Harvey SB, Smith FW, Hukins DW (1998) Measurement of lumbar spine flexion-extension using a low-field open-magnetic resonance scanner. Invest Radiol 33:439–443 37. Pearcy M, Portek I, Shepherd J (1984) Three-dimensional X-ray analysis of normal movement in the lumbar spine. Spine 9:294–297 38. Fujiwara A, Tamai K, An HS et al (2000) The relationship between disc degeneration, facet joint osteoarthritis, and stability of the degenerative lumbar spine. J Spinal Disord 13:444–450 39. Jinkins JR, Dworkin JS, Damadian RV (2005) Upright, weight-bearing, dynamic-kinetic MRI of the spine: initial results. Eur Radiol 15:1815–1825 40. Siddiqui M, Nicol M, Karadimas E et al (2005) The positional magnetic resonance imaging changes in the lumbar spine following insertion of a novel interspinous process distraction device. Spine 30:2677–2682 41. Siddiqui M, Karadimas E, Nicol M et al (2006) Influence of X-STOP on neural foramina and spinal canal area in spinal stenosis. Spine 31:2958–2962 42. Siddiqui M, Karadimas E, Nicol M et al (2006) Effects of X-STOP device on sagittal lumbar spine kinetic in spinal stenosis. J Spinal Disord Tech 19:328–333 43. Beastall J, Karadimas E, Siddiqui M et al (2007) The Dynesys lumbar spinal stabilization system: a preliminary report on positional magnetic resonance imaging findings. Spine 32:685–690 44. Woodard EJ, Leon SP, Moriarty TM et al (2001) Initial experience with intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging in spine surgery. Spine 26:410–417
2.1 Dynamic MRI of the Spine 45. Verheyden P, Katscher S, Schulz T et al (1999) Open MR imaging in spine surgery: experimental investigations and first clinical experiences. Eur Spine J 8:346–353 46. McCulloch JA (2001) Low-field-strength (open) MRI does not delivery the information needed to plan lumbar microdiscectomy and/or microdecompression. Spine J 1:160 47. Cargill SC, Pearcy M, Barry MD (2007) Three-dimensional lumbar spine postures measured by magnetic resonance imaging reconstruction. Spine 32:1242–1248
45 48. Thompson JP, Pearce RH, Schechter MT et al (1990) Preliminary evaluation of a scheme for grading the gross morphology of the human intervertebral disc. Spine 15: 411–415 49. Pfirrmann CW, Metzdorf A, Zanetti M et al (2001) Magnetic resonance classification of lumber intervertebral disc degeneration. Spine 26:1873–1878
Assessment of Status of End Plate and Diffusion in Degenerative Disc Disease
2.2
S. Rajasekaran
Evaluation of Nutrition to the Disc Although multi-factorial, alterations in nutrition are considered to be the “final common pathway” for DDD [24]. Along with intact nutritional pathways, a stable mechanical environment that will maintain the normal hydrostatic pressure is also important to maintain the health of the disc. The end plate (EP) plays a crucial role in maintaining the mechanical environment and the intact nutritional pathways and thus, plays a crucial role in both the health and disease of the lumbar discs. However, it is reduced to a thin layer of cartilaginous tissue early in life and is susceptible to mechanical failure [25]. Autopsy studies have demonstrated microcracks and progressive failure of the EP even in the first decade of life. Corresponding physiological changes in diffusion have also been demonstrated by serial post-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies [26, 27]. These damages increase in frequency and severity over the age, but the healing potential of the EP is not clear. EP damage can precipitate DDD in a variety of ways including altered nutrition [28], leakage of protein macro-molecules and loss of hydrostatic pressure, altered matrix synthesis [21–23, 29, 30], secondary annular damage and vascularization of the nucleus pulposus without auto immune changes [31, 32]. It is now well accepted that structural failure of the EP may be the crucial factor in initiating the progress of DDD [11, 21, 26, 30, 33, 34].
S. Rajasekaran Department of Orthopaedic and Spine Surgery, Ganga Hospital, 313 Mettupalayam Road, Coimbatore, 641043 Tamil Nadu, India e-mail:
[email protected] Biological treatment methods such as the use of recombinant proteins, cytokines and growth factors [35–38], molecular therapy [39–43], gene transfer techniques [44–46] and stem cell therapy [47–50] are now viewed as attractive options to halt or even reverse DDD. However, the success of these therapies will depend on the nutritional status of the discs, which in turn depends on the status of the EP. A normal EP will allow normal diffusion and ensure adequate nutrition for implanted cells. In contrast, these therapies will fail when performed in a degenerated disc that has damaged EPs, which do not allow any nutrition. The “soil” is as important as the “seed” and any biological therapy is doomed to fail when employed in an inappropriate setting of poor nutritional supply. It becomes important that the functional status of the EP and the nutrition to the disc is properly assessed before any treatment decision is performed [51].
Assessment of the Structure and Function of End Plate in Vivo There is a volume of literature on the EP and its role in DDD [21–23, 26, 30, 32, 52–55].However, most of them are based on laboratory studies [56, 57], animal studies [58–61] or cadaveric studies [25]. MRI is a commonly performed investigation and has proved successful in evaluating the status of the discs. It would be helpful to have a MRI-based assessment of the EP status and damage. A clear understanding of MRI appearance of the EP is necessary. Modic et al. described three types of changes in the EP region (Fig. 2.2.1), which are now popularly termed as “EP changes” [62]. However, these are changes in the vertebral marrow and subchondral
M. Szpalski et al. (eds.), Surgery for Low Back Pain, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-04547-9_2.2, © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2010
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S. Rajasekaran
Fig. 2.2.1 The existing phrase “end plate (EP) changes”, which has already found wide usage and acceptance in the literature, causes confusion of the exact representation of EP in literature. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) frequently shows signal intensity (SI) changes of the subchondral bone (grey arrows), which have been termed “EP changes”. The three types of changes that have been described actually represent the MRI appearance of the changes in the vertebral bone marrow. (b–d) The changes frequently extend into the body and are not those of the EP. In the normal T1 MRI picture, there is a hypointense
zone between the subchondral bone and the nucleus pulposus (white arrows), which probably represents the EP rather than the hyperintense zone of the bone margins (a). The zone is anatomically distinct and functionally represents the EP, as it is sharply demarcated from the bone and the nucleus pulposus by being hypointense by at least 60–100 U. The time–intensity curve of this zone is also distinct from the neighbouring bone and nucleus pulposus. Anatomic alterations of this zone seen in MRI were seen to effect substantial changes in the diffusion pattern of the disc
bone and do not represent the actual EP. Uniform hypo-intense bands that separate the nucleus pulposus and the subchondral bone and clearly seen in T1 and T2 weighted images have been reported to functionally represent the EP in the MRI. Subsequent detailed studies of 365 lumbar discs have also confirmed that the status of the EP and severity of damage can be identified by studying the hypo-intense bands [51]. Rajasekaran et al. assessed the status of 730 EPs of 365 discs from 73 individuals (26 healthy human volunteers and 47 patients) in T1 weighted images and
described six types according to the severity of damage (Fig. 2.2.2) [51]. Type I EP had no damage and was seen as a uniformly symmetrical concave hypo-intense band without EP breaks or associated Modic changes. Type II EP had focal thinning either at the centre or periphery, but without any EP break or Modic changes. Type III EP demonstrated focal disc marrow contact regions without alteration in the contour of the EP. Modic changes were absent. Type IV EP damage resembles a typical schmorl’s node occupying up to 25% of the EP area with typical depression. Subchondral
2.2 Assessment of Status of End Plate and Diffusion in Degenerative Disc Disease
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Fig. 2.2.2 This figure shows six varieties of end plates (EPs) according to severity of damage. Type I is a normal EP and is seen as an uninterrupted hypo-intense band and symmetrically concave. Type II is an EP with areas of thinning either in the centre or periphery; no obvious break is visualized. Type III is an EP that shows focal defects with established disc marrow contact. The contour of the EP is maintained and there is no sub-chondral bone (SCB) change. Type IV EPs have breaks less than 25% with sub-chondral depression. Modic changes are usually present around the node. Type V are larger EP defects occupying up to 50% of the EP with associated modic changes. Type VI EPs have extensive damage involving almost the entire EP
changes were usually present. Type V EP involves more extensive damage occupying up to 50% of the EP area and was always associated with sub-chondral changes. Type VI EP represented complete EP damage with gross irregularity or sclerosis. Depending on the severity of EPD, an EP score was given to denote the extent of damage of each EP (Fig. 2.2.2) and a “Total End Plate Damage Score (TEPS)” was derived for each disc by adding up the score of both end plates (EPs). The TEPS has a good correlation to the incidence of DDD (Fig. 2.2.3) [51]. The incidence of DDD was only 12% when the TEPS was below 4 and progressively increased to 90% when the TEPS was 11 (Trend Chi square, p 0.9 and the curve formula showing the association was y > a/(1 + b*exp(−cx)); Coefficient data: (a > 5.187; b > 189.391; c > 0.859). It is seen that the incidence of DDD was negligible in patients with a TEPS score of less than four and then slowly rising till six. The curve showed a steep response till the score of nine after which there was an asymptote indicating that most discs were degenerated by the time the score was nine. The curve indicated that the critical TEPS score was six beyond which the incidence of DDD was very high Precontrast
a
10 min
b
L4
The intervertebral discs are the largest avascular structures in the body and depend entirely on diffusion from blood vessels at the periphery for supply of essential nutrients for cellular activity and removal of metabolic wastes. EP plays an important role not only in controlling diffusion but also in preventing osmotically active proteoglycans (which are essential for hydration of the discs) from leaving the discs. Small solutes, such as oxygen, glucose and sulphate, are also transported into the discs chiefly by diffusion [63] and their concentration is maximal in the periphery and gradually decreases towards the centre. Diffusion of discs was initially studied by measuring hydrogen wash out [64], using radioactive [65–67] or fluorescent tracers [68] and measuring intra disc nitrous oxide administered during anaesthesia by inserting the microelectrodes into the disc during surgery [70]. The paucity of methods to assess the status of the EP in vivo by a non-intervention method was one of the serious handicaps limiting our understanding of the physiology of nutrition in health and its alteration in disease. In recent years, post-contrast MRI has been widely used as a non-invasive means of studying transport into the discs in animals and humans in vivo [26, 27, 51]. An increase in signal intensity (SI) in the discs following intravenous injection of a non-ionic contrast (gadodiamide) can be used to measure the amount of diffusion. The non-invasive nature of this technique and the possibility of calculating enhancement in various regions of interest of the spine over different periods of time allowed interesting opportunities to study disc diffusion
2 Hrs
c
L4
Fig. 2.2.4 The integrity of the end plate is important for the health of lumbar discs. However, minor disruptions with only focal disc marrow contacts do not result in major alterations in diffusion or disc degeneration. Here, there is a focal end plate damage in the superior end plate of L4 (a). Immediately after
6 Hrs
d
L4
12 Hrs
e
L4
L4
the dye injection, there is an increase with intensity highlighting the disc marrow contact at the region of the end plate damage (b). At two hours (c), six hours (d) and twelve hours (e) the alteration in diffusion is found to be restricted to the area of end plate damage with normal diffusion in the remaining areas
2.2 Assessment of Status of End Plate and Diffusion in Degenerative Disc Disease
in detail. Following a intravenous injection of gadodiamide (0.3 mmol/kg), the vertebral body (VB) and subchondral bone (SCB) attained peak enhancement at 10 min, and the EP attained peak enhancement at 2 h subsequently by the Peripheral Nucleous Pulposus (PNP) at 6 h and Central Nucleous Pulposus at 6–12 h. This phenomenon was termed as “diffusion march” and was found to be an important characteristic of a normal disc with an intact EP. The EP zone achieved enhancement only after a delay at 2 h (EP delay). Frequently, the increase in intensity was seen visually from 2 h as bright bands of enhancement parallel to the EP, which gradually widened towards the centre. The findings allowed identification of the EP breaks in vivo. Rajasekaran et al. [51] reported that diffusion in an intact EP is characterized by maintenance of the diffusion march, the presence of EP delay and the absence of enhancement spikes in the areas of PNP. In contrast, minor break in the zone is characterized by the presence of enhancement spikes in the PNP even in the 10 min sequence. Several alterations in diffusion pattern have been identified depending upon the severity of damage to the EPs (Fig. 2.2.5 and Table 2.2.1). The diffusion pattern was normal (Pattern A) if uninterrupted smooth diffusion bands parallel to the EP were noticed at 2 h and slowly progressing to the central nucleus pulposus (CNP). Measurement of SI at various zones also confirmed the presence of “diffusion march” phenomenon and “EP delay” [51]. Pattern B diffusion had diffusion spikes across the EP, enhancing the disc marrow contact zones. The PNP at the site of the break showed enhancement even at 10 min, but diffusion band over the other areas was intact and there was no pooling inside the matrix. Pattern C diffusion was associated with defects with subchondral bone depression in the EP and had pooling restricted to the area of defect. The diffusion bands were maintained at other areas and there was no pooling in the CNP. Pattern D diffusion had more extensive defects where the pooling of the dye extended from the subchondral defect to the PNP and areas of the CNP. Patchy areas of normal diffusion
51
pattern were still seen. Pattern E diffusion had a complete loss of normal diffusion and there was complete pooling occupying the entire CNP. Pooling of the dye in the nucleus pulposus results from the leak of the contrast through large disc marrow contact channels and vascularization of the disc matrix. This represents a pathological state and must not be confused with increased nutrition. Vascularization of the disc has been found to be associated with autoimmune reactions, accumulation of immunoglobulins and destruction of NP [31, 69]. Pooling of the dye in NP also strongly indicates a destroyed matrix and can be considered as a critical radiological sign to confirm irreversible degeneration. It also probably indicates an altered milieu interior with altered nutritional pathways which will not support biological treatment. Patients chosen for biological therapies must be carefully selected on the basis of the status of the EP and the nutrition. Discs with a TEPS of six and above and discs showing gross pooling of the dye in the NP may not be suitable for biological or regenerative therapies (Fig. 2.2.6).
Conclusions Damage to the EP appears to be the initiating factor for DDD both by altering the mechanical environment and affecting the nutritional pathways. The EP score that assesses the damage to the EPs in plain MRI studies has been shown to have a good correlation in DDD, irrespective of the level or age of the patient [51]. A total EP score of six appears to be critical, beyond which there is a high incidence of degeneration. Similarly, the post-contrast MRI studies offer the possibility of assessing the status of diffusion, which in turn reflects the status of the nutritional pathways. A TEPS of more than six and “gross pooling of dye” in the NP represents structural failure and altered nutrition and may indicate an environment unsuitable for biological treatment and regenerative therapies.
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S. Rajasekaran Diffusion Patterns in Serial Post - Contrast MRI Pre-contrast
2 hours
6 hours
Pattern A
Pattern B
Pattern C
Pattern D
Pattern E
12 hours
2.2 Assessment of Status of End Plate and Diffusion in Degenerative Disc Disease
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Table 2.2.1 Various patterns of diffusion in post-contrast MRI Patterns Diffusion characteristics
Status of EP
A
Uninterrupted uniform band of diffusion EP delay and diffusion march present No enhancement spikes or pooling
Normal
B
Areas of disc marrow contact Normal diffusion band maintained in other areas No gross changes in the diffusion pattern
Focal breaks
C
Focal pooling in PNP at site of defect Diffusion band is affected at defect level only No pooling inside CNP
Minimal EP damage
D
Focal pooling within the defect and extending into the CNPEP delay and diffusion march is altered
Moderate EP damage
E Totally abnormal diffusion pattern with gross pooling in CNPNo diffusion bands visualized PNP peripheral nucleus pulposus; CNP central nucleus pulposus
Total EP damage
• TEPS 7 and above • Diffusion pattern D or E
Fig. 2.2.6 The spectrum of treatment available for symptomatic DDD. Biological treatment and regenerative medicine therapies would be suitable for discs with a TEPS score less than six and with a diffusion pattern of A and B, which indicate good nutritional status. Motion preservation techniques with distraction and unloading the disc have also showed good results. The above therapy would probably fail in discs with established degeneration or in discs with a TEPS of seven and more or a diffusion pattern of (C, D) or E. They would probably require arthroplasty or fusion
• TEPS 6 and below • Diffusion pattern A or B
Arthroplasty
Fusion
Motion preservation Biological treatment Physical therapy
Fig. 2.2.5 Five visually distinguishable diffusion patterns were observed in serial post contrast MRI. Pattern A represented normal diffusion pattern observed in healthy discs with intact end plates. The diffusion bands were uninterrupted and parallel to the end plates and slowly progressed to the central nucleus pulposus. No abnormal disc marrow contacts were seen. Pattern B was seen in discs with focal end plate defects with patent disc marrow contacts which became very prominent in 2 h post contrast pictures. The typical diffusion bands were seen in the rest of the areas and there was no abnormal pooling of the dye.
Pattern C was seen in defects with involvement of the subchondral bone and large disc marrow contacts. Here there was pooling of the dye at the region of the defect but the diffusion bands were maintained in the other areas. There was no leakage of the dye to the centre of the nucleus pulposus. Pattern D was associated with pooling of the dye in the peripheral nucleus pulposus by 2 h extending into small areas of the central nucleus pulposus subsequently. Pattern E indicated a total disruption of the disc and the entire disc space was filled with the dye even by 10 min
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The Role of Physician Extenders in a Low Back Pain Practice
2.3
Michael R. Zindrick, Michael N. Tzermiadianos, Cary R. Templin, and Raymond E. Hines III
Introduction The vast majority of patients presenting to physicians with low back pain complaints are treated successfully in a nonoperative fashion. The medical care and treatment of the low back pain patient population are labor intensive with a low patient visit to surgery ratio. A successful and efficient spine surgery practice requires screening a large volume of patients before a surgical case is identified. The spine surgeon is often overwhelmed by a large quantity of referrals, leading to the task of having to actively manage both large numbers of nonoperatively and surgically treated low back patients. These patients generate large numbers of phone calls, follow-up visits, prescription refills, disability forms for Worker’s Compensation, and personal injury claims, representing a significant expenditure of physician and staff time. In this environment, skilled physician extenders including physician assistants (PAs), physical therapists (PTs), and advanced nurse practitioners (APNs) are extremely effective in helping to successfully meet the increased requirements of low back patient management. This team approach frees up physician time and aid in the reduction of the waiting periods for specialized spine care. Furthermore, the additional attention that patients receive, as opposed to care delivered only by a single physician, is positively perceived by patients as comprehensive and thorough, high-quality healthcare. There are several allied health professional categories. Some of them are properly trained and certified to
M. R. Zindrick (*) Hinsdale Orthopedic Associates, Hinsdale, IL 60521, USA e-mail:
[email protected] perform, under supervision, many of the routine services that physicians would otherwise have to provide directly. They can substantially add to physician productivity, especially in a practice that sees a lot of managed care patients, and therefore, can function as physician extenders. Physician extenders include registered nurses, advanced nurse practitioners, physician assistants, physical therapists, and athletic trainers. How each of these healthcare professionals can function at a low back practice is dictated by state and local licensure and credentialing statutes. While all can function in the clinic, assisting in surgery is primarily limited to physician’s assistants and certified surgical assistants. Whether their services can be reimbursed by insurance varies both within insurance policies and state mediated reimbursement policy. This discussion will focus on the role of nurses, physician assistants, and physiotherapists, assessing their function in the clinical and surgical environment of a spine surgery practice.
Allied Healthcare Professionals Nursing The oldest sense of “nursing” in the English language can be traced back to the fourteenth century and referred to a woman employed to suckle and care for a younger child. By the fifteenth century, nursing had evolved into the act of looking after another, not necessarily meaning a woman looking after a child [1]. Prior to the foundation of modern nursing, nuns and the military often provided nursing-like services [2]. Florence Nightingale, working to improve conditions of soldiers in the Crimean War, laid the foundation for professional
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nursing as we know it today [3]. Nursing has grown to be one of the most critical aspects of patient care and has become a government regulated profession, requiring appropriate licensure and credentialing. New Zealand was the first country to regulate nurses nationally in 1901. In the United States (US), North Carolina was the first state to pass a nursing licensure law in 1903. Nurses are often placed in key management roles within health services and hold research posts at universities. The modern era has seen the development of several types of nursing degrees. With additional training, advance degrees to the nursing are available including nurse clinician and nurse practitioner categories. Each degree allows for more extensive clinical responsibilities, even approaching those of the primary care physician.
Physician Assistants The shortage and uneven distribution of primary care physicians in the United States during the mid-1960s led to the creation of the first class of PAs in 1965. That class put together selected navy corpsmen who had received considerable medical training during their military service and during the war in Vietnam but had no comparable civilian employment. The curriculum of the PA program was based in part on the experience of the fast-track training of doctors during World War II [4, 5]. Physician Assistants are healthcare professionals licensed to practice medicine in the United States, under physician supervision. They are trained in intensive education programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Pro grams (previously the American Medical Association’s Committee on Allied Health Education and Accredi tation). Common services provided by a PA include taking medical histories and performing physical examinations, ordering and interpreting lab tests, diagnosing and treating illnesses, assisting in surgery, prescribing and/or dispensing medication, and counseling patients regarding diagnosis and treatment options. Physician Assistants can prescribe medications in forty-nine states [6]. In the United States, the PA model has proven to be a cost-effective way to train quality primary care providers with a high degree of acceptance of the PA role
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by patients and other healthcare providers. Several countries including the United Kingdom, Scotland, Canada, the Netherlands, Taiwan, South Africa, and Ghana are exploring the concept of the physician assistant as a way to quickly and efficiently train and employ autonomous and flexible health workers to address their nation’s healthcare needs [7]. Because of their close working relationship with physicians, PAs are educated in the medical model designed to complement physician training. Upon graduation, physician assistants take a national certification examination developed by the National Commission on Certification of PAs in conjunction with the National Board of Medical Examiners. To maintain their national certification, PAs must log 100 h of continuing medical education every 2 years and sit for a recertification every 6 years. Graduation from an accredited physician assistant program and passage of the national certifying exam are required for state licensure. Physician assistants can function to assist in patient care in both the clinic based and surgical environment. Almost universally their services are reimbursed adequately to cover the cost of their salaries and benefit packages.
Physiotherapists The use of physiotherapists to see orthopedic outpatients was first described in 1989 [8]. In 1994, Hourigan and Weatherley reported a system to triage back pain by physiotherapists that eventually became widespread in United Kingdom and other countries [9]. According to this system, acute back pain outpatients are seen initially by a trained physiotherapist. The physiotherapist takes a careful history, performs a physical and radiological examination, and refers on to the spine surgeon only problematic cases and those potentially in need of surgery. Initially, all cases were discussed in resume with the consultant surgeon. However, as the physiotherapists became more experienced, the surgeon, in most cases, found that he/she was only sanctioning what has been proposed.
Certified Athletic Trainers Certified athletic trainers help move patients faster through the appointment and treatment process, thereby
2.3 The Role of Physician Extenders in a Low Back Pain Practice
increasing physician productivity and efficiency and allowing the office to treat more patients in the same amount of time. They can reduce re-injury rates through patient instruction, reduce recovery time from nonsurgical injuries, and aid in the rehabilitate musculoskeletal injuries. Athletic training services are reimbursable by many insurance companies, and services are either directly billed or billed incident to physician services.
Physician Extenders’ Tasks Assisting in the Office In an ideal setting, the low back pain patient/physician encounter would be limited to reviewing the pertinent medical history, the pertinent physical examination, the pertinent radiographic and medical tests, and spending the majority of time discussing with the patient the medical problem at hand and potential treatment modalities. The time requirements necessary to obtain and interpret the patient’s pertinent medical history, physical examination, radiographic findings and medical tests are significant and can be overwhelming to daily practice patterns. Obtaining this information from the patient and organizing it prior to the physician’s visit with the patient is one of the most valuable functions that a physician extender can provide in spine practice. By identifying pertinent findings which require further study (MRI, discogram, etc.), the practice efficiency is enhanced. Physician extenders can also be used for telephone triage and assistance with the scheduling of patients’ appointments. In busy practices with high telephone traffic, the PAs and NPs can assess the patient’s problem and determine the urgency for the visit. Initial Evaluation History: The physician extender can facilitate the patient filling out intake forms while obtaining and reviewing a thorough past medical history. Important points of this process include determining associated diseases, medications, prior surgeries or interventions (such as physical therapy or injection therapy), and all pertinent information regarding patient’s current chief complaints and organizing this for the physician in a
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standard fashion. The use of standard entry forms that include all of this information including a pain drawing is the basic requirement for the practice, and the physician extender can help to streamline this process for the patient and the physician. Physical examination: Qualified physician extenders are skilled and competent to perform a thorough neurological and musculoskeletal physical examination. With pertinent physical findings provided by the assistant at the initial encounter, the physician is able to focus his or her time on the physical examination as it related to the patient’s specific complaints. Again, a standardized office form that encompasses the complete examination highlighting positive findings is paramount for increasing efficiency.
Follow-Up Visits Physician extenders can be effectively used in the clinical practice to see patients for follow-up clinic visits. Included in these visit categories are initial postoperative visits and follow-ups during ongoing nonoperative management. Follow-up visits to review test results (MRI, discogram, etc.) and outline treatment plans that may include surgical intervention are best handled by the physician, although the assistant can help to further explain the physician’s discussion with the patient if the patient has extensive questions.
In Hospital Tasks Most hospitals in the United States will credential nurses and physician assistants to function within the hospital environment. The assistant’s interaction with the patient may include acute inpatient care and assistance in surgical procedures. Physician extenders can assist in rounds on a daily basis, i.e., seeing patients and reviewing laboratory and radiographic data, while being legally and clinically qualified to write chart notes and orders. Most institutions require, however, close physician supervision of these functions, including daily cosigning of all orders and notes. To work effectively, open and timely communication must exist between the physician and the assistant. It is imperative that the physician maintains communication with the patient in order that the
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patient does not perceive the assistant’s presence as physician’s neglect. Hospital Medical Records Credentialed, qualified physician extenders are capable, under physician supervision, to prepare most of the hospital required medical reports. These include histories and physicals, consultations, and discharge summaries. Most institutions will allow these to be dictated by credentialed health care professional such as APNs and PAs, while close physician supervision and cosigning of these documents are required. Back Pain Clinics and Triage for Back Pain The realization that one of the key factors that encourages acute back pain to become chronic is being off work led to the development of back pain screening clinics, as a system of triage, to reduce long waiting times for diagnosis and treatment. Triage is the medical model of diagnosis used to exclude serious pathology. As triage directs the management pathway, its role is to place the patients into groups at an early stage, identifying those who might benefit from surgery, and fast tracking them, identifying those who will benefit from conservative management and tracking them accordingly. Triage deals with identifying “red flags” denoting serious spinal pathology and “yellow flags” denoting the psychosocial factors, nerve root pain, cauda equina, and inflammatory disorders. Triage in low back pain clinics is traditionally performed by trained physiotherapists [10]. The introduction of these services, initially in the United Kingdom and subsequently in other countries, resulted in a reduction in the waiting periods for the specialized spine clinic, and a clinical and economical improvement in the care of those suffering from acute low back pain [11]. A potential disadvantage of this approach is that physiotherapists are less reliable than surgeons when conducting physical examination [12, 13].
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curriculum of PAs includes training in surgical assisting skills, which is recognized by most institutions and credentialing bodies. Nurses, however, are generally not allowed to function in this capacity unless they participate in extra training and are credentialed specifically as surgical assistants. Assistance in surgical procedures is beyond the basic training of registered nurses, nurse clinicians, or nurse practitioners. Physician’s assistants and nurses, once credentialed as surgical assistants, may bill for their services and are recognized by most third-party payers. In this time of shrinking physician reimbursements, income received assisting in the operating room can be substantial and either partially offset or fully cover the costs associated with employing a physician extender. It is this financial incentive that supports the physician’s assistant as a most desirable adjunct member of a health care team managing low back surgical practice in United States.
Other Clinical Tasks In today’s medical environment, there exists a multitude of patient contact tasks required in providing healthcare. These include dictating and completing the medical record for initial and follow-up office visits, effectively communicating with referring physicians and third-party payers, sorting through and evaluating test results including laboratory and radiographic studies, returning patient phone calls, coding and submitting physician charges for surgery, hospital consultations and prescription refills. In addition, the paperwork generated by disability and workers compensation claims is overwhelming, and the physician extender can be instrumental in efficiently managing this load. Though crucial in providing quality healthcare, many of these tasks can be effectively delegated to qualified physician extenders, thereby freeing the physician to perform more of those tasks that he or she is uniquely qualified to perform.
Assistance in Surgical Procedures
Conclusions
Most institutions in the US require that surgical assistants be either other physicians, physician’s assistants, or credentialed surgical assistants. The educational
Providing all of the necessary services required in the modern, tightly regulated, healthcare environment, can stretch physician time beyond that which is available.
2.3 The Role of Physician Extenders in a Low Back Pain Practice
Performing all required tasks leaves limited time for direct patient contact. Using a physician extender in a low back practice frees up the physician’s time to focus his/her attention and skills on those patients who require a higher level of care and allow the practice to treat more patients daily. This shortens waiting period for specialized low back pain quality care, enables efficient and higher quality physician -patient contact, and possibly affects treatment outcomes. Furthermore, the additional attention the patients receive, when being treated by a medical team as opposed to a single physician, is positively perceived as thorough, comprehensive, quality healthcare.
References 1. “Nurse” (1989) The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd edn. Oxford University, p 603–604 2. Marjie Bloy (2002) Florence Nightingale (1820–1910) available at: http://www.victorianweb.org/history/crimea/florrie.html 3. Nightingale F (1860) Notes on Nursing. What it is and what it is not. New York D. Appleton and Company. Available at: http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/nightingale/nursing/ nursing.html#III
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4. American Academy of Physician Assistants. Information about PAs and the PA profession. Available at: www.aapa. org/geninfo1.html 5. American Academy of Physician Assistants 2007–2008 Policy Manual. Alexandra Va 6. The Pew Heath Professions Commission. Charting a course for the twenty first century. Physician Assistants and Managed care. San Francisco UCSF Center for Health Professionals 1998 7. Legler CF, Cawley JF, Fenn WH (2007) Physician assistants: education, practice and global interest. Med Teach 29(1): e22–e25 8. Byles SE, Ling RSM (1989) Orthopaedic out-patients -A fresh approach. Physiotherapy 75:433–437 9. Hourigan PG, Weatherley CR (1994) Initial assessment and follow up by a physiotherapist of patients with back pain referred to a spinal clinic. J R Soc Med 87:213–214 10. Weatherley CR, Hourigan PG (1988) Triage of back pain by physiotherapists in orthopaedic clinics. J R Soc Med 91: 377–379 11. Mofidi A, Sedhom M, O’Shea K, Cassells M, Curley A, Fogarty E, Dowling F (2003) Screening of lower back pain, low back pain clinic. The clinical experience. Ir Med J 96(9): 270–273 12. McCombe PF, Fairbank JC, Cockersole BC et al (1989) 1989 Volvo Award in clinical sciences: reproducibility of physical signs in low-back pain. Spine 14:908–918 13. McCarthy CJ, Gittins M, Roberts C, Oldham JA (2007) The reliability of the clinical tests and questions recommended in international guidelines for low back pain. Spine 32(8): 921–926
Part Conservative Treatment
III
Natural Evolution of Nonspecific Low-Back Pain
3.1
Michel Benoist and Thibaut Lenoir
Abbreviations
Definition
HRqol Health related quality of life LBP Low-back pain MRI Magnetic resonance imaging NSN Nociceptive spinal neuron RDq Roland disability questionnaire SF36 Short from 36 VAS Visual analog scale
Nonspecific LBP can be defined as any type of LBP after exclusion of serious conditions such as tumors, infections, or spondylo-arthropathies, as well as LBP of nonspinal origin. Unfortunately, this large group is not uniform. Classification into subgroups depends on the conceptualization and management of the condition. Traditionally, the natural course of LBP is considered as a medical biomechanical problem. More recently, the influence of psychologic and social factors has led to the development of a psycho-social model of chronic disease. Finally, a biopsychosocial analysis has been proposed as a paradigm for management [43, 44]. Natural history is an important issue. It can be considered as the gold standard for evaluation of the various treatment strategies. Its knowledge is also valuable to evaluate correctly the risk factors of passage to chronicity and to give the patient appropriate information on prognosis.
Low-back pain (LBP) is a frequent problem in the adults of western societies. It affects approximately 80% of the population at some time in life [2] with a point prevalence of 20%. It is also the most frequent diagnosis for work incapacity and disability benefits [16]. Moreover, chronic LBP is responsible for huge medical and compensation expenses. Prevention measures have been developed to modify this unfavorable evolution. However, despite appropriate prevention, the prognosis remains less favorable in a subset of patients who develop a chronic problem with intermittent exacerbations. The purpose of this chapter is: 1. To summarize the natural evolution of nonspecific LBP. 2. To overview the various factors influencing the condition to become chronic and evaluate the therapeutic strategies capable of hastening the resolution of pain and disability.
M. Benoist (*) University of Paris VII, Hôpital Beaujon, 100 Bd. du Gl. Leclerc 92110 Clichy, France e-mail:
[email protected] Database Information on natural history is provided by a huge number of epidemiologic studies. For example, in an extensive literature search, Pengel et al. [29] retrieved over 4,000 articles. However, caution is recommended in interpreting the data considering the varied quality of the studies, the wide variety of study designs, and the choice of cohort. As emphasized by Hestbalk et al. [23], the lack of distinction between outcome parameters is another important source of confusion. Results of questionnaires used in the outcome assessments may be biased by erroneous symptoms recall or non response.
M. Szpalski et al. (eds.), Surgery for Low Back Pain, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-04547-9_3.1, © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2010
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Moreover and most importantly, there are major cultural, political, and socio-economic differences across countries. Generalization from one country to another is difficult. In summary, while interpreting the data one must keep in mind the limitations of assessing evolution of pain, and of its severity. Therefore and as stated by Anderson [1], “validity and reliability of the data on LBP are uncertain and should be considered approximate.”
CHRONIC
Central sensitization of CNS permits development and amplification of painful perception
PAIN Brain Cortical nociceptive hyperactivity
Cord Increase of spinal neurons excitability
Classification as a Function of Time LBP can be measured as the length of time the patient has experienced pain [27]. It is now generally admitted to distinguish three types of LBP: acute if the pain is shorter than 4 weeks, chronic if the pain lasts more than 3 months, and subacute for pain lasting between 4 weeks and 3 months. This classification is obviously a simplification of reality, but is useful in research and clinical practice. It is also now admitted that pain transmission involves four main levels: the nociceptive input coming from the peripheral tissues, the cord, the brain, and the descending inhibitory pathways. Classification as a function of time is based on the neuro-physiologic mechanisms of pain. Acute nonspecific LBP has a direct relationship with peripheral stimuli. Nociceptive nerve fibers located in the degenerated disk and in other structures of the motion segments (facets, ligaments, and muscles) are physically stimulated through mechanical instability, and chemically by neurogenic and inflammatory mediators and by cytokines [14, 31, 35]. Figure 3.1.1 presents a hypothetical and rough sketch of the biologic events leading to the sensitization of nerve terminals
Physical stimulation instability
Cytokines
Small fibers Robots ganglion
Excite Substance P
PGE2 Bradykin
Sensitize Substance P
Acute non-specific L.B.P Fig. 3.1.1 Peripheral stimulation of the nerve terminals in acute nonspecific low-back pain (LBP)
Nociceptor
A delta, C
NSN
Fig. 3.1.2 Central sensitization of the central nervous system
and generation of LBP. Chronic LBP (over 3 months) is, at least in part, dissociated from the peripheral stimuli. Prolonged pain leads to central sensitization of the central nervous system defined by an increase of the nociceptive spinal neurons excitability (Fig. 3.1.2). There is now evidence that central sensitization of the cord can enable persistent pain states independent of a primary afferent drive. There is also increasing evidence that in addition to the spinal cord, the higher cortical centers play a role in the CNS central sensitization. Results of functional MRI studies of the brain performed in a group of chronic LBP patients have shown on brain mapping an augmentation of central nociceptive activity [18]. Subacute nonspecific LBP (between 1 and 3 months) is an important phase, as during this period biopsychosocial impairments begin to develop in relation to the onset of the CNS sensitization due to the prolonged period of peripheral nociceptive activity. Persistence of pain during this period calls for careful interviews and validated questionnaires to identify other problems, psychosocial or work-related [27].
Prognosis of Acute and Subacute Low-Back Pain Von Korff and Saunders recommended summarizing the available data on short-term course during the first 3 months after the index consultation period
3.1 Natural Evolution of Nonspecific Low-Back Pain
c orresponding to the acute and subacute phases according to the traditional classification [41]. It was originally considered that 90% of patients with acute LBP recover within 6 weeks irrespective of the type of treatment or without treatment [43]. Such high recovery rates are disclosed in truly acute incident cases. For example, in the study by Coste et al. [11] using an inception cohort design and including 113 patients with less than 72 h pain duration and no LBP in the past, the mean duration of the episode was 8 days and 87% of the patients had recovered by day 30. Only six patients (5%) had not recovered by 3 months. Interestingly, lower SF36 and higher RDQ scores were associated with delayed recovery, highlighting the key role of work-related factors and the initial HRQOL in identifying the patients at risk of chronicity very early after the onset of the episode. Pengel et al. [29] have selected 15 studies of prospective design for a systematic review of LBP prognosis. The inception cohort of participants had LBP for less than 3 weeks. The follow-up period was at least 3 months with reports on symptoms, health quality of life, disability, or return to work. Most studies reported that pain and disability decreased rapidly within 1 month of initial levels, followed by a slow decrease until about 3 months. The pooled mean pain level was 22 at 1 month and 15 at 3 months on a 100 point score with similar numbers for the disability score. Most patients off work with LBP had returned to work within 3 months after which pain and disability remained constant in the two studies with a follow-up beyond 3 months. Cross-sectional or longitudinal studies including mixed cohorts of patients with primary acute LBP, recent exacerbations of chronic LBP, and sometimes sciatica, which are different conditions, report less favorable outcomes. In a review paper, Von Korff and Saunders [41] summarized the data from five highquality studies including over 1,000 patients at different stages of the disease during the first 3 months after the index consultation. The percentage of pain-free patients at 1 month was approximately 50%, 30% with mild to moderate pain intensity and 15–20% with severe pain. There was a modest improvement between 1 and 3 months (the subacute period). At 3 months, approximately 60% were pain-free, 20–25% had moderate to severe disability usually accompanied by high intensity pain, and 20–25% had a mild moderate pain intensity. More pessimistic findings can be disclosed in other studies examining the clinical course of mixed cohorts
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of care seeking patients. As an example, in the study by Thomas et al. [36], 48% of the 113 patients were still experiencing disabling LBP evaluated on VAS and Hanover score at 3 months after the initial consultation. In a prospective cohort study of patients seen in primary care, Cherkin et al. [10] used symptom satisfaction measures based on patients’ own criteria to assess the clinical course. They found that at 7 weeks, only 67% of patients reported good outcome after the index consultation. In the study reported by Van den Hoogen et al. [38], 15 general practitioners from Amsterdam studied consecutive patients with an acute LPB of recent onset or of exacerbation of chronic back pain. Thirty-five percentage of the 269 patients still experienced LBP after 3 months. This brief summary of a few selected studies examining the natural history of LBP at short-term course indicates a high variability of outcomes ranging from 5 [11] to 48% [36] of patients with persistent LBP. However, it should be noted that most studies indicate a modest improvement between 1 and 3 months. As stated by Roland and Morris [32], the variability of the symptoms between patients, as well as the frequency of the recurrences, complicates the ability to accurately summarize the natural evolution of LBP. In addition, as emphasized above, the choice of cohort and the different outcome measures are the main factors explaining the variability of prognostic estimates. As carefully discussed by Van Korff and Saunders [41], there is a hierarchical relation between pain intensity, back functioning, disability, and sick leave. Mild recurrent back pain may have little impact on HRQOL, and patient functioning. Patients are occasionally examined with moderate or even high intensity levels of pain with no significant activity limitations. However, moderate to severe activity limitations are usually accompanied by high-intensity pain levels and reduced work ability.
Prognosis at Long-Term Course: Chronic LBP Most studies indicate that once established, chronic LBP is persistent in many patients [12]. Chronic LBP can be permanent and is defined as pain present most of the days within a given time frame and/or recurrent with episodic flare-ups of varying duration, frequency, and
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severity. Obviously, chronic LBP is not a static but a fluctuating condition. Intermittent increases can markedly affect affect disability and health-related quality of life. A recent study of good methodological quality [3] has evaluated for 6 months the evolution of acute LBP of less than 6 weeks duration, and with no back pain in the previous 12 months, in an inception cohort of 100 patients. At 6 months follow-up, 40% had fully recovered before 3 months, and 60% had persistent LPP, either continuous (14%) or with recurrent episodes (46%). Good quality studies have shown that disabling LBP may persist largely over 6 months. In the Manchester study [36] based upon a cross-sectional analysis of 180 patients, disabling LBP persisted in 73% at 1 week, 48% at 3 months, and 42% at 12 months. About a third of the participants were classified as having chronic disabling LBP with related disability at each of the three consultations. In an effort to evaluate the longterm course of primary care patients, Von Korff and Saunders [41] analyzed the results of four studies including their own [4, 28, 30, 42]. Long-term extending pain, number, and duration of recurrences, as well as pain intensity and disability, were addressed. The summary of long-term outcomes at 1–2 years followup was as follows: Approximately 33% of primary care patients experienced LBP of moderate intensity; 15% reported severe-intensity pain and 20–25% reported substantial activity limitations. Other studies report different and sometimes more pessimistic outcomes. For example, in the retrospective study of Van Tulder et al. [37] based upon 524 patients, the median duration of symptoms was more than 4 years. A cohort of 1,246 patients with acute LBP generated from 208 community practitioners was followed regularly over 22 months by Carey et al. using valid reliable measures [8]. Ninety six patients had chronic continuous symptoms for 3 months, forming the inception cohort of chronic LBP. Two-thirds of patients with chronic LBP at 3 months had disabling chronic symptoms at 22 months. Hestbalk et al. [23] have reviewed and analyzed 36 studies of long-term course of LBP. Twenty-eight studies were observational, and eight were randomized. Because of the lack of homogeneity of the reviewed studies, meta-analysis was not possible. Results are expressed as ranges of study estimates to evaluate the extent of persistent or recurring symptoms. The overall findings of this review were as follows: between 42 and 75% of subjects still experienced pain after 12
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months. Between 3 and 40% were still sick-listed 6 months after inclusion in a study, with relapses of work absence ranging between 26 and 37%. The point prevalence rates of LBP in persons with previous episodes of LBP range from 14 to 93%, whereas the corresponding rates for those without a prior history of LBP range from 7 to 39%, the risk of LBP being twice as high for those with a history of LBP. Overall, one can summarize very schematically the evolution of chronic LBP at long term as follows: at 12 months, LBP persists in two out of three cases (not always with activity limitations). Relapses occur in over half of the patients, with a new sick listing in approximately one case out of three. Patients must be informed of this possible evolution in order to diminish fear-avoidance and its consequences.
Sick Listing and Return to Work Absence of work and sick listing have a deleterious effect on natural evolution. Prolonged absence from work makes return to work less likely. Spitzer et al. [34] have shown that approximately half of the patients absent from work more than 6 months return to work; the rate of return to work is even lower for those sicklisted for more than 1 year. Studies have demonstrated that compensation influences prolonged work incapacity [19, 26]. Other factors including job satisfaction, socioeconomic or psychosocial factors have a decisive influence on return to work. In a 1-year study, Hansson and Hansson [21] have compared work resumption in cohorts of employed patients of six nationalities, sick listed for chronic LBP for at least 3 months. The frequencies of work resumption varied between countries, ranging within the first year from 73% in the Netherlands to 32% in Denmark. Work resumption was principally dependent on psychosocial and work-related factors. It was also shown that EUROQOL, a quality of life instrument, was the most powerful predictor of return to work or no return to work, indicating that self-rated health with psychological distress is an important predictor of persistent disability and that work incapacity should not be regarded solely as a biological medical problem [22]. Persistent chronic LBP and sick listing are not limited to employed workers. For example, in a subset of self employed dentists, physicians, and veterinarians,
3.1 Natural Evolution of Nonspecific Low-Back Pain
chronic LBP developed in 23% with insurance claims lasting over 6 months [39].
Who Develops Chronic Back Pain?
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factors are associated with the presence of LBP. Interestingly, in the two groups, occurrence of recurrent LBP was strongly associated with the presence of complaints in other body regions pointing out of the clinical importance of widespread pain associated with chronic LBP. These findings, discussed in another chapter, suggest the crucial role of the central nervous system in the development of chronicity. They also suggest the existence of a subgroup of chronic LBP patients with central sensitization different from those with a depressive symptomatology. On the other hand, chronicity could also be linked to the structural pathology of the lower back and to the persistence of the nociceptive input emanating from the degenerative spinal unit. Indications of fusion or nonfusion procedures are based on this assumption. Unfortunately, unlike osteoarthritis of the hip or knee, discal degeneration does not necessarily mean pain. The relation between imaging abnormalities and LBP are discussed in a special chapter. Recently, high-quality studies [7, 13, 15] have shown that a substantial proportion of well-selected chronic LBP patients can be successfully treated by surgery. It was also demonstrated that others obtain satisfactory results with an appropriate conservative therapy including an intensive multidisciplinary rehabilitation program [20]. As shown in Fig. 3.1.3, while examining a disabled chronic LBP patient, the problem is to differentiate those patients with a dominant influence of central sensitization, whether psycho-social or fibromyalgialike, from patients for whom persistence of the peripheral nociceptive input is the principal source of the pain. Structured questionnaires, interviews with careful listening, and a good patient–physician relationship
Measures of LBP show that chronic nonspecific LBP can be a persistent disabling condition in a substantial proportion of patients. This group, the so-called “tertiary group,” consumes most of the resources. Heavy physical jobs including lifting, twisting, vibration exposure, or repetitive tasks are associated with acute LBP and tissue injuries. However, the influence of occupational factors on the development of chronicity has not been clearly demonstrated. In the Boeing study [5] it was found that perceptions of work, perceptions of safety and other psycho-social factors played a greater role than all physical measures. Similarly in the expert model developed by Frymoyer and Cats-Baril [17], work environment, psychosocial factors and duration of the current episode were the main predictors of long-term disability. These findings clearly call for a broader approach of the multifaceted aspects of chronic LBP. Several psychosocial risk factors have been linked to the patient’s persistent pain [2, 5, 9, 25, 44]. These aspects, as well as their clinical relevance and their impact on therapeutic considerations, will be discussed in another chapter. However, these factors do not fully explain the patient’s symptoms in a significant number of individuals. Thomas et al. [36] have developed an interesting model of adverse prognostic factors. They were able to dissociate premorbid factors from episode-specific factors of chronicity. Premorbid factors included history of LBP, dissatisfaction with work, Fibromyalgia like and high psychological distress, confirming the role of Psycho social psychological and work-related factors. The episode- specific factors included sex (women), radiating leg Central sensitization pain, and widespread pain. This latter factor is important to consider. Widespread pain is the cardinal feature of fibromyalgia, probably related to an augmentation of Chronic L.B.P. central nociceptive activity as shown on brain mapping. Similar findings have been shown on chronic LBP patients without psychosocial problems [18]. A recent Peripheral sensitization study [33] has sought to determine whether recurrent persistence of nociceptive input LBP has a different symptomatology in two occupational groups: nurses and administrative workers, and Fig. 3.1.3 The decision to operate or not is based on a careful whether in the two occupational groups different assessment of the various clinical and radiological parameters
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often enable to detect patients with psychosocial problems who should be directed to rehabilitation. Hopefully, development of biologic methods or imaging strategies will be able to identify patients with central sensitization without major psycho or social abnormalities or imaging features of hyperstimulation of the peripheral nerve terminals. As already mentioned, functional MRI of the brain has shown an augmented cerebral pain processing in this category of patients. On the other hand, development of sensitive specific imaging signs or other methods to ascertain the discogenic origin of the pain is mandatory. Prevalence and clinical relevance of endplates changes of Modic I type have been reported and discussed [6, 24, 40, 45]. At present, the decision to operate or not is based on a careful overall clinical assessment of the patient, comprehending the various parameters involved in chronic pain.
Conclusions Methodological variations including choice of cohort, study designs, outcome measures, as well as the lack of precision in the definition of nonspecific LBP, explain the difficulty in accurately assessing the natural course of LBP. However, a few conclusions and suggestions can be reached as follows: • The course of nonspecific LBP at short and long term is not as favorable as originally claimed. • The relation between pain, back functioning, and disability is complex. Healthy subjects with moderate or even severe pain intensity may have no functional limitations, and do not necessarily seek care. • All studies confirm the existence of a subset of chronically disabled sick-listed patients (15–20%) who consume most of the economic resources. • General health, individual physical work related, and various psychosocial factors influence the persistence and recurrence of multifaceted chronic LBP. • Although no biologic mechanisms have been found to relate the psychosocial factors to the development and maintenance of chronic LBP, the role of the central nervous system at the cord and brain levels appears crucial. • Further studies are needed to validate the existence of a subgroup of patients without psychosocial or workrelated factors, who develop central sensitization similar to that observed in fibromyalgia patients.
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• Persistence of the peripheral nociceptive input emanating from the degenerated spinal units can also explain continuation of the pain. • The difficult therapeutic challenge is to differentiate the different categories of patients.
References 1. Anderson GBJ (1997) The epidemiology of spinal disorders. In: Frymoyer JW (ed) The adult Spine. Lippincott-Raven, Philadelphia 2. Anderson GBJ (1999) Epidemiological features of chronic low-back pain. Lancet 354:581–585 3. Bakker E, Verhagen A, Lucas C et al (2007) Spinal mechanical load: a predictor of persistent low-back pain? A prospective cohort study. Eur Spine J 16:933–941 4. Bergquist-Ulmann M, Larson U (1977) Acute low-back pain in industry. A controlled prospective study with special reference to therapy and confounding factors. Acta Orthop Scand 170:11–17 5. Bigos SJ, Battie MC, Spengler DM et al (1991) A prospective study of work perception and psychosocial factors affecting the report of back injury. Spine 16:1–6 6. Braithwaite J, White J, Salfuddin A et al (1998) Vertebral endplate changes on lumbar spine MRI. Correlation with pain reproduction on lumbar discography. Eur Spine J 7:363–368 7. Brox JI, Sorensen R, Friis A et al (2003) Randomized control trial of lumbar instrumented fusion and cognitive intervention and exercises in patients with chronic low-back pain and disc degeneration. Spine 28:1913–1921 8. Carey J, Garrett J, Jackman A (2000) Beyond the good prognosis. Examination of an inception cohort of patients with chronic low-back pain. Spine 25:115–120 9. Carragee EJ (2001) Psychological and functional profiles in select subjects with low-back pain. Spine J 1:198–204 10. Cherkin D, Deyo R, Street J et al (1996) Predicting outcomes for back pain seen in primary care using patients’ own criteria. Spine 21:2900–2907 11. Coste J, Lefrancois G, Guillemin F et al (2004) Prognosis and quality of life in patients with acute low-back pain: insights from a comprehensive inception cohort study. Arthritis Rheum 51:168–176 12. Croft PR, Macfarlane GJ, Papageorgiou AC et al (1998) Outcome of low-back pain in general practice: a prospective study. BMJ 316(7141):1356–1359 13. Fairbank J, Frost H, Wilson-Mac Donald J et al (2005) Randomised controlled trial to compare surgical stabilization of the lumbar spine with an intensive rehabilitation program for patients with chronic low-back pain: the MRC spine stabilization trial. BMJ 330:485–492 14. Freemont A, Peack TE, Goupille P et al (1997) Nerve ingrowth into diseased intervertebral disc in chronic back pain. Lancet 350:178–181 15. Fritzell P, Haag O, Wessberg P et al (2001) Llumbar fusion versus non surgical treatment for chronic low-back pain: a multicenter randomized controlled trial from the sweedish lumbar spine study group. Spine 26:2521–2532
3.1 Natural Evolution of Nonspecific Low-Back Pain 16. Frymoyer JW (1988) Back pain and sciatica. N Engl J Med 318:291–300 17. Frymoyer JW, Cats-Baril W (1987) Predictors of low-back pain disability. Clin Orthop 221:89–98 18. Gieseke T, Gracely RH, Masilo AH et al (2004) Evidence of augmented central pain processing in idiopathic chronic low-back pain. Arthritis Rheum 50:613–623 19. Greenough CC (1993) Recovery from low-back pain 1–5 year follow-up of 287 injury related cases. Acta Orthop Scand 64(Suppl 254):1–64 20. Guzman J, Esmail R, Karjalainen K et al (2001) Multi disciplinary rehabilitation for chronic low-back pain. Systematic review. BMJ 322:1511–1516 21. Hansson TH, Hansson EK (2000) The effects of common medical interventions on pain, back function and work resumption in patients with chronic low-back pain. Spine 25:3055–3064 22. Hansson EK, Hansson TH, Jonsson R (2006) Predictors for work ability and disability in men and women with low-back or neck problems. Eur Spine J 15:780–793 23. Hestback L, Leboeuf-YDE C, Manniche C (2003) Low back-pain what is the long-term course? A review of studies of general patient populations. Eur Spine J 13:149–165 24. Ilharreborde B, Olivier E, Rillardon L et al (2005) Efficiency of total disc replacement arthroplasty in the treatment of chronic low-back pain. Presented at the Issls annual meeting. May 10–14, New York, USA 25. Klenerman L, Slade PD, Stanley M et al (1995) Predicting long term functional limitations among back pain patients in a general practice setting. Spine 20:478–484 26. Leavitt F (1992) The physical exertion factor in compensable work injuries. A hidden flaw in previous research. Spine 17:307–310 27. Nachemson A (2004) The evidence base for treatment of not degenerative disc disease but back pain. In: Gunzburg R, Spaslski M, Anderson GBJ (eds) Degenerative disc disease. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, Philadelphia 28. Pedersen PA (1981) Prognostic indicators in low-back pain. JR Coll Gen Pract 31:209–216 29. Pengel L, Herbert R, Maher C et al (2003) Acute low-back pain: systematic review of its prognosis. BMJ 327(7410): 323–327
71 30. Philips H, Grant L (1991) Acute back pain. A psychological analysis. Behav Res Ther 29:429–434 31. Roberts S, Eisenstein SM, Menage Y (1995) Mechanoreceptors in intervertebral discs. Morphology, distribution and neuropeptides. Spine 20:2645–2651 32. Roland M, Morris R (1983) A study of the natural history of low-back pain part II: development of guidelines for trials of treatment in primary care. Spine 8:145–150 33. Shenk P, Lanblit HJ et al (2007) Symptomatology of recurrent low back pain in nursing and administrative professions. Eur Spine J 16:1789–1898 34. Spitzer WO, Leblanc FE, Dupuis M et al (1987) Scientific approach to the assessment and management of activityrelated spinal disorders: a monograph for clinicians. Report of the Quebec Task force on spinal disorders. Spine 12:51–559 35. Takahashi H, Suguro T, Okazima Y et al (1996) Inflammatory cytokines in the herniated disc of the lumbar spine. Spine 21:218–224 36. Thomas E, Silman AJ, Croft P et al (1999) Predicting who develops chronic low-back pain in primary care: a prospective study. BMJ 318:1662–1667 37. Tulder MW VAN, Koew BM, Bouter LM (1997) Management of chronic non specific low back pain in primary care: a descriptive study. Spine 22:76–82 38. van den Hoogen H, Koes B, Deville W et al (1997) The prognosis of low-back pain in general practice. Spine 22:1515–1521 39. Van Doorn T (1995) Low back disability among self employed dentists, veterinarians, physicians and physical therapists in The Netherlands. Acta Orthop Scand 66(Suppl 263):1–64 40. Vital JM, Gille O, Pointillart V et al (2003) Course of Modic I, 6 months after lumbar posterior osteosynthesis. Spine 28:715–720 41. Von Korff M, Saunders K (1996) The course of back pain in primary care. Spine 21:2833–2837 42. Von Korff M, Deyo RA, Cherkin D (1993) Back pain in primary care. Outcomes at 1 year. Spine 18:855–862 43. Waddell G (1987) A new clinical model for the treatment of low back pain. Spine 12:632–644 44. Waddell G (1992) Biopsychosocial analysis of low-back pain. Baillere Clin Rheumatol 6:523–557 45. Werhaupt O, Zanetti M, Hodler J (2001) Relevance of endplates abnormalities at MRI imaging. Radiology 218:420–427
3.2
Prescribing Conservative Treatment for Low Back Pain F. Balagué and J. Dudler
Introduction
Treatment Psychological
As clinicians, prescribing conservative treatment is an essential part of our daily activity. Prescriptions are based on knowledge, and evidences are available for the different therapies in LBP. However, evidence is just a measure of the generalizability, or external validity, of the efficacy of a given treatment. In other terms, how well some form of treatment performs for an “average patient” or a group of patients, a measure usually defined within the frame of a scientific study. In an era of limited healthcare resources, all our patients would be ideally “average,” and treatments would be evidence-based. Only treatments demonstrated to be effective would be considered and used for LBP, as for any other condition. However, the decisions made by clinicians for individual patients are multifactorial and do not rely solely on scientific evidence as already highlighted by Sackett [35]. The adherence of practitioners to the recommendations of guidelines, a peer reviewed condensate of scientific evidences, is far from being perfect [14]. An impressive study from the US including more than ten million ambulatory visits during a 6-year period has shown that the AHRQ clinical practice guidelines for the management of acute LBP had a more than modest impact on physician behavior. Worst, there was no evidence of a trend toward improved compliance with guidelines over time [16].
F. Balagué (*) Service de Rhumatologie, Médicine Physique et Réhabilitation, HFR-Hospital Cantonal, Case postale, 1708 Fribourg, Switzerland e-mail:
[email protected] Cultural
Individual patient
Biological
Prescription
Society
Socio-economic Physician
Fig. 3.2.1 Schematic description of the variables in place during the process of prescription
In this chapter, we are going to concentrate on the variables that play a role in individual decision making. What makes a doctor prescribe or not a given treatment to the unique individual patient sitting in front of him? Different categories of factors play a role in such procedure that might be classified into several categories from patients-related factors, doctor’s previous experiences with treatments, or even to societal factors (Fig. 3.2.1).
Treatment-Related Factors We prescribe a treatment because we know or we believe it to be effective. However, all treatments come with a cost, in terms of price, risk, or cumbersomeness, a factor we implicitly integrate in our decision making. None hesitates to prescribe borderline efficient but safe treatments; however, we all would be reluctant to use a highly effective treatment for LBP if treatment-related mortality is an issue. There are plenty of articles summarizing the available evidence more or less strongly supporting the therapies available for LBP [1, 5, 7–9, 22, 25, 41], and
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some are presented in this book. However, it has also been recently highlighted that there is insufficient evidence regarding the effectiveness of many of the available therapies used for chronic LBP [19]. For example, opioids are frequently prescribed in western countries, despite a recent review showing limited evidence supporting their utilization in chronic LBP sufferers [11]. And in his review, Joines conclude that good quality randomized controlled trials are still needed to clarify the role of various treatments [19]. Another problem with treatment effectiveness is that for a treatment to be effective, at least two things have to be present. The treatment must have an active ingredient that is likely to have a positive effect on the symptom or disease being treated, and the patient must also adhere to the treatment regime [40], a fact taking for granted but probably far from the truth. Based on their review of literature, Oleske et al. highlight that dropout rates are higher in intervention studies of LBP when participants are allocated to groups requiring the most effort (dynamic exercise over physiotherapy or over rest) [30]. Finally, we gullibly assume that proof of efficiency in one dimension of LBP will directly apply to all other aspects of the syndrome. In their recent review, Krismer and van Tulder recommended that the goals of treatment should be defined according to the international classification of functioning, disability and health (ICF) of the WHO. Reduction of pain, prevention of disability, and maintenance of work capacity are all goals of treatment in patients with nonspecific low back pain [22]. However, most treatments do not demonstrate the same efficacy in all these domains, and we all know patients with good symptomatic response who never return to work.
Patient-Related Factors Individual patients’ response, which is the outcome clinicians are dealing with in daily practice, does not necessarily match the results of a scientific study. Patients come in different sizes and colors, and no patient is average. Many dimensions influence the response to treatment: biological (age, gender, comorbidities), psychological (preferences, comorbidities), cultural (beliefs, attitudes), or socioeconomic. Not only can they influence the biologic response to a given
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treatment but most of these variables can also likely influence patients’ compliance with treatment. Even with a perfect compliance, individual biological characteristics may play a role. For example, genetic background (e.g., CYP2C9, CYP2D6) has been shown to explain different responses to analgesics or antiinflammatory drugs [18, 21, 39]. The clinician, however, is not aware of the individual patient’s genotype and an unexpected response to analgesics might be erroneously attributed to lack of compliance or to psychological factors. Furthermore, patients with LBP have been shown to present significantly more comorbidities than the general population [38]. These associations may of course interfere with the treatment that the physician would like to prescribe for LBP. Age is another relevant biologic variable and specific recommendations concerning the conservative treatment of LBP in older patients have been published recently [10]. The challenge with medication is to find the dosage that maximizes pain relief and minimizes side effects [40]. If biological variables are significant, the work from Pulliam et al. demonstrates that psychological and cultural factors are as important to understand the efficiency of our prescription. They analyzed the difficulties encountered in the implementation of a secondary prevention program in acute LBP patients. Several groups of problems were identified apart from biological factors, i.e., personality factors, satisfaction, comprehension, side effects, financial issues, length of treatment, type of regimen, social issues, and patient beliefs. The authors made some useful suggestions to improve patients’ adherence to prophylactic interventions, e.g., financial incentives, involvement of the referring physician, good communication, involvement of family members, case management services, and avoiding too lengthy or complicated interventions [33]. Patient’s own preferences and expectations are also important. The patient’s preferences may influence the outcome. Manca et al.’s study compared a brief physiotherapy intervention with usual physiotherapy for neck pain. Patients preferring and allocated to the brief intervention showed better health outcomes and lower costs with a better cost-effectiveness than patients without that particular preference [26]. Expectations are equally relevant to define the goals of treatment and, thus, the prescription. Zelman et al. studied a group of chronic pain patients (including almost 40% of chronic LBP) and reported on the patients’ point of view on their goals
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for the management of persistent pain and particularly what can be considered “tolerable” or “unacceptable” days [42]. According to this study, chronic LBP patients show reasonable expectations and identified five key components of what can be considered “a day of desirable pain management,” i.e., taking the edge off the pain, some functional capacity, social engagement desirable, night time rest, and reduced negative affect [42]. Finally, if patient-related factors are certainly important, understanding patients’ preferences is a challenging task. In a study of 314 patients, a majority of patients preferred to see their general internist for a potential LBP and agreed/strongly agreed that it was important for them to see the same doctor for a back pain as for any other medical problems, despite 72% of them thinking that specialists were better able to prescribe medication for back pain. At the same time, they wanted unrestricted access to specialists to supplement care provided by general internists. Interestingly, their understanding of the job of an internist showed amazing gaps (e.g., 22% thought that an internist delivers babies, 51% that she/he does minor surgery, and 11% that she/he does major surgery) [24]. Nevertheless, patient’s decisions appear more logical and comprehensible when they actually suffer from LBP, when “only” 58% agreed/strongly agreed that it was important to see the same doctor for their actual back pain as for any other medical problems [24].
Moreover, when evidences are available, they do not directly translate into adequate use. A study including 30 primary care physicians has shown that many of the physicians report reluctance to regularly consult algorithms when treating chronic pain [17]. Doctor seems more prone to prescribe following her/his beliefs with regard to the origin of pain than any evidence-based recommendations. If a doctor thinks that she/he has identified the anatomic origin of pain, it seems logical that the treatment will be guided by her/his hypothesis [20], rather than to the effectiveness/acceptability of guidelines. Adherence of Irish general practitioners to published guidelines was rather low in a recent prospective study [14].
Physician-Related Factors As previously mentioned, we prescribe treatments because we judge it to be effective. We like to believe that most of our prescriptions are evidence-based, even if we should probably admit they are heavily tinted by our previous experiences. Also, we should never forget that evidences regarding the effectiveness of many of the available therapies used for chronic LBP are still lacking [19]. Referring to published literature does not solve all our problems as shown by Furlan et al. in their critical review of reviews on the treatment of chronic LBP. They highlighted two important points that the clinician should bear in mind. Reviews of better quality tended to have more uncertain or negative conclusions, and when two or more reviews examine the same intervention, conflicting conclusions about effectiveness were very likely [15].
Patient-Physician Interaction-Related Factors The literature shows that many reasons exist for a doctor to make decisions unsupported by the available scientific evidence [2]. A fair amount of them are related to the therapeutic relationship or the interaction between patient and physician. A review of some problem situations in that relationship was published a few years ago by Nordin et al., and suggestions displayed remain perfectly adapted in 2010 [29]. It is impossible to analyze or describe all possible flaws in the patient-physician interaction, which could play a role in the act of prescription, but some examples would help to understand this complexity. General practitioners’ interpretations of patients’ preferences, rather than the actual patient’s expectations, can be a major reason for nonadherence to the guidelines recommendations as shown by a recent qualitative study [36, 37]. Physicians’ fear of losing patients is another factor that may contribute to inadequate prescription with treatments that not only lack scientific evidences, but also may be dangerous. One of the examples is the use of intramuscular NSAIDs instead of using oral forms, a flaw which can be perhaps corrected by the use of patient information leaflet as recently demonstrated [34]. If physician’s fear and interpretation can mislead the prescription process, patients also endorse their responsibilities. In a recent study in the US, 63% (and possibly 72%) of the 831 adults subjects who saw both a medical doctor and a complementary and alternative therapy (CAM) provider did not disclose at least one of their
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CAM therapies to their doctor [12]. Patients failed to report their therapy, even if they judged CAM therapies to be more helpful than conventional medical care for the treatment of neck and back conditions, among other pathologies. This lack of communication was not due to a selection bias as the same patients judged conventional care to be more helpful than CAM therapy for treatment of hypertension and less than 50% of them judged that CAM providers were better listeners and did a better job of explaining their medical conditions. The authors conclude that many patients view medical doctors as members of a larger, patient-selected healthcare team [12], and it certainly appears that the doctor is not the unique reference for the patient, as we like to believe. Other aspects of the limitations of the information provided by patients during a clinical encounter have been highlighted in recent studies [6, 28]. The relationship between patient and physician can influence not only the prescription, but also its evaluation, which in turn may subsequently influence the prescription. Evaluating compliance in daily practice is not an easy task, and is not regularly performed by clinicians. A recent American study has evaluated the predictors of missed visits and dropouts in an occupational health longitudinal study for work-related low back troubles [30]. Most predictors, either of dropout, early vs. late dropout, or number of missed visits, were variables unrelated to medical care. Dropout was related to age and poor self-reported health status, while greater body fat percentage was associated to early dropout. Finally, patients with back pain longer than 2 weeks and arthritis missed more than three visits [30]. Evaluation of the outcome is another area where patient’s and healthcare provider’s perception may differ. Recently, Perreault and Dionne published a study including 78 patient-physiotherapist dyads where the perception by the therapists of patients’ pain using a numerical rating scale and their functional capacity by means of the Roland and Morris disability questionnaire was on the average a third lower than when self-reported by patients. Interestingly, if a majority of studies quoted demonstrated a detrimental effect of higher discrepancies between patients and professionals, a favorable effect was observed in this case [31]. Patient and doctor relationships are not so trivial, and we can ask what makes our consultation a “good back-consultation” for the patient? Laerum et al. recently published the results of a combined qualitative
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and quantitative study of chronic LBP patients and summarized what patients consider a “good backconsultation.” The main aspects were to be taken seriously (be seen, heard, and believed), to be given an understandable explanation of what is wrong, to have patient-centered communication (seeking patients’ perspectives/preferences), to receive reassurance, to be given, if possible, a favorable prognosis, and to be told what can be done (by the patient him- or herself and by the care provider) [23]. The authors made some useful suggestions to improve our daily practice with LBP patients, i.e., “deal more with psychosocial issues and particularly how LBP affect various roles of daily life. This is also important because psychosocial factors are important predictors of prognoses and clinical course of LBP and chronic LBP almost consistently has important psychosocial consequences; use more open-ended questions, not least when dealing with psychosocial and complex emotional issues; improve the structuring of the consultation with more distinct opening, intersectional/management and closing phase of the consultation, not least with pre-announcing and declaring what is coming next in the encounter. This has been shown to give better patient satisfaction, compliance and recall; make more use of summarizing and repetition of what has happened during the consultation.” This reminded us that management of chronic LBP patients is more than “just” prescribing [3].
Societal-Related Factors Healthcare system characteristics and regulations vary from country to country, and without doubt influence the prescription habits. This fact is certainly not simply and directly related to the domestic national gross product as a recent comparison between Australia, New Zealand, and the US has shown. Despite the fact that many aspects of the clinical practice are remarkably similar between these three countries, the average American receives much less exposure to primary care physicians for musculoskeletal-related health problems than patients living in the other two countries (29.7 min/year vs. 55.5 min/year in NZ and 83 min/ year in Australia) [4]. However, economical aspects also play an important role in many decisions. For instance, in Switzerland not all spinal surgeons are allowed (i.e., reimbursed) by the insurance companies
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to implant disk prosthesis. In the same country, radiofrequency facet joints denervation are not reimbursed anymore. Similarly, the role of insurance coverage has been suggested to explain differences between the US and the European literature in terms of dropouts (higher in the US) in intervention studies of low back pain [30]. Influences of those societal-related factors on individual prescription will appear obvious, nevertheless their influences on the external validity of some evidences presented to promote a treatment strategy will be much more subtle. A group of British authors has analyzed the cost-effectiveness of two physiotherapy strategies for back and neck pain patients. A brief physiotherapy pain management approach using cognitivebehavioral principles was cheaper than a traditional McKenzie approach, but the latter offers the greatest health outcome (in QUALYs) and was the most costeffective in their trial [27], a result not necessarily applicable to different socioeconomic environments.
treatment with valid tools on a regular basis to confirm the efficacy and adequacy of his decisions, being always ready to change therapeutic prescriptions/recommendations if lack of efficacy becomes evident. Finally, if a regular application of these principles can certainly improve our medical practice, it appears from the nonmedical point of view that most doctors do a fair job in their daily practice: “If doctors practiced medicine like many companies practice management, there would be more unnecessarily sick or death patients and many more doctors in jail or suffering other penalties for malpractice” [32].
Conclusions The practice of clinical medicine remains an art with a scientific background. When the clinician makes decisions for an individual patient, she/he takes into account many factors, either consciously or unconsciously. Treatment cannot be based solely on “hard” evidences, because they are not always available or adequate for the given patient. Tailoring of individual treatments is necessary and is in agreement with the principles of EBM. However, the scientific evidences must be kept in mind and we should not rely only on our experience. In a study where 9% of diagnostic testing or surgeries were refused, based on recommendations and against the treating physician’s opinion and experience, 85% of these patients improved with simple conservative management over a follow-up period of 1 year [13]. Furthermore, this approach was reported to be highly “cost-effective” [13]. For a good practice, or rather an always improving practice, the clinician must keep in mind the influence of subjective factors when his decisions are not fully in agreement with the recommendations of existing guidelines. He should be particularly concerned about totally subjective factors related to the patient or his personal experiences. He must also evaluate the effect of his
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78 11. Deshpande A, Furlan A, Mailis-Gagnon A, Atlas S, Turk D (2007) Opioids for chronic low-back pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev (3):CD004959 12. Eisenberg DM, Kessler RC, Van Rompay MI, Kaptchuk TJ, Wilkey SA, Appel S, Davis RB (2001) Perceptions about complementary therapies relative to conventional therapies among adults who use both: results from a national survey. Ann Intern Med 135:344–351 13. Friedlieb OP (1994) The impact of managed care on the diagnosis and treatment of low back pain: a preliminary report. Am J Med Qual 9:24–29 14. Fullen BM, Maher T, Bury G, Tynan A, Daly LE, Hurley DA (2007) Adherence of Irish general practitioners to European guidelines for acute low back pain: a prospective pilot study. Eur J Pain 11:614–623 15. Furlan A, Clarke J, Esmail R, Sinclair S, Irvin E, Bombardier C (2001) A critical review of reviews on the treatment of chronic low back pain. Spine 26:E155–E162 16. Jackson JL, Browning R (2005) Impact of national low back pain guidelines on clinical practice. South Med J 98: 139–143 17. Jamison RN, Gintner L, Rogers JF, Fairchild DG (2002) Disease management for chronic pain: barriers of program implementation with primary care physicians. Pain Med 3: 92–101 18. Janicki P, Schuler G, Francis D, Bohr A, Gordin V, Jarzembowski T, Ruiz-Velasco V, Mets B (2006) A genetic association study of the functional A118G polymorphism of the human mu-opioid receptor gene in patients with acute and chronic pain. Anesth Analg 103:1011–1017 19. Joines JD (2006) Chronic low back pain: progress in therapy. Curr Pain Headache Rep 10:421–425 20. Kent P, Keating J (2004) Do primary-care clinicians think that nonspecific low back pain is one condition? Spine 29:1022–1031 21. Kirchheiner J, Brockmöller J (2005) Clinical consequences of cytochrome P450 2C9 polymorphisms. Clin Pharmacol Ther 77:1–16 22. Krismer M, van Tulder M (2007) Low back pain (non-specific). Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol 21:77–91 23. Laerum E, Indahl A, Skouen JS (2006) What is “the good back-consultation”? A combined qualitative and quantitative study of chronic low back pain patients’ interaction with and perceptions of consultations with specialists. J Rehabil Med 38:255–262 24. Lewis CL, Wickstrom GC, Kolar MM, Keyserling TC, Bognar BA, DuPre CT, Hayden J (2000) Patients preferences for care by general internists and specialists in the ambulatory setting. J Gen Intern Med 15:75–83 25. Main CJ, Sullivan MJL, Watson PJ Edinburgh (2008) Pain management. Practical applications of the biopsychosocial perspective in clinical and occupational settings, 2nd edn. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, Edinburgh 26. Manca A, Epstein DM, Torgerson DJ, Klaber Moffett JA, Coulton S, Farrin AJ, Hahn S, Jackson DA, Richmond SJ (2006) Randomized trial of a brief physiotherapy intervention compared with usual physiotherapy for neck pain patients: cost-effectiveness analysis. Intl J Technol Assess Health Care 22:67–75
F. Balagué and J. Dudler 27. Manca A, Dumville JC, Torgerson DJ, Klaber Moffett JA, Mooney MP, Jackson DA, Eaton S (2007) Randomized trial of two physiotherapy interventions for primary care back and neck pain patients: cost-effectiveness analysis. Rheumatology 46:1495–1501 28. McCarthy C, Gittins M, Roberts C, Oldham J (2007) The reliability of the clinical tests and questions recommended in international guidelines for low back pain. Spine 32: 921–926 29. Nordin M, Cedraschi C, Skovorn ML (1998) Patient-health care provider relationship in patients with non-specific low back pain: a review of some problem situations. Baillière’s Clin Rheumatol 12:75–92 30. Oleske DM, Morrissey Kwasny M, Lavender SA, Andersson GBJ (2007) Participation in occupational health longitudinal studies: predictors of missed visits and dropouts. Ann Epidemiol 17:9–18 31. Perreault K, Dionne CE (2006) Does patient-physiotherapist agreement influence the outcome of low back pain? A prospective cohort study. BMC Musculoskeletal Disord Sep 20;7:76 32. Pfeffer J, Sutton RI (2006) Evidence-based management. Harv Bus Rev 84:62–74, 133 33. Pulliam C, Gatchel RJ, Robinson RC (2003) Challenges to early prevention and intervention: personal experiences with adherence. Clin J Pain 19:114–120 34. Rosemann T, Joos S, Koerner T, Heiderhoff M, Laux G, Szecsenyi J (2006) Use of a patient information leaflet to influence patient decisions regarding mode of administration of NSAID medications in case of acute low back pain. Eur Spine J 15:1737–1741 35. Sackett DL, Rosenberg WM, Gray JA, Haynes RB, Richardson WS (1996) EBM: what it is and what it isn’t. BMJ 312:71–72 36. Schers H, Braspenning J, Drijver R, Wensing M, Grol R (2000) Low back pain in general practice: reported management and reasons for not adhering to guidelines in The Netherlands. Br J Gen Pract 50:640–644 37. Schers H, Wensing M, Huijsmans Z, van Tulder M, Grol R (2001) Implementation barriers for general practice guidelines on low back pain. Spine 26:E348–E353 38. Schneider S, Mohnen S, Schiltenwolf M, Rau C (2007) Comorbidity of low back pain: representative outcomes of a national health study in the Federal Republic of Germany. Eur J Pain 11:387–397 39. Stamer U, Stüber F (2007) The pharmacogenetics of analgesia. Expert Opin Pharmacother 8:2235–2245 40. Turk DC, Dworkin RH (2004) What should be the core outcomes in chronic pain clinical trials? Arthritis Res Ther 6:151–154 41. van Tulder M, Becker A, Bekkering T, Breen A, del Real MT, Hutchinson A, Koes B, Laerum E, Malmivaara A; Care CBWGoGftMoALBPiP (2006) Chapter 3. European guidelines for the management of acute nonspecific low back pain in primary care. Eur Spine J 15:S169–S191 42. Zelman D, Smith M, Hoffman D, Edwards L, Reed P, Levine E, Siefeldin R, Dukes E (2004) Acceptable, manageable, and tolerable days: patient daily goals for medication management of persistent pain. J Pain Symptom Manage 28: 474–487
Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Low back Pain and Back Schools
3.3
Margareta Nordin
Introduction
Level of Evidence
A group at McMaster University in Canada first formulated evidence-based medicine (EBM) as a term in 1992 by Gordon Guyatt. The concept of EBM was to rely on the best available evidence and clinical experience in medical decision making. The concept can be traced back to the twentieth century in its current form and includes the best available evidence from well-designed studies, clinical expertise, patient’s values, and cost for the society. EBM and methodology have greatly developed during the last two decades. There are now explicit criteria of evaluation for the domains of risk, prognosis, assessment, treatment, and economic studies. Evidence summaries are provided by literature review using best evidence synthesis (BES) or some rating system, for example, by Taskforces, Cochran, or Rand. Systematic reviews and large taskforces have summarized the evidence for comprehensive rehabilitation for lower back pain and back schools. These reviews have led to changes in the clinical management of patients with lower back pain over the last decade. These two topics are discussed in this chapter, which focusses on treatment studies and gives some examples of strong evidence for education of the patient and comprehensive rehabilitation to avoid chronic disability.
Treatment studies and levels of evidence of efficacy are usually divided into five levels (one being the strongest evidence and five the weakest evidence [1]. The levels are described as follows: Level 1 evidence – randomized control trials of high quality and systematic reviews Level 2 evidence – lesser quality randomized control trials, prospective comparative studies, and systematic reviews with inconsistent results Level 3 evidence – case control studies, retrospective comparable studies Level 4 evidence – case series Level 5 evidence – expert opinion If a treatment has showed good efficacy in several Level 1 studies, the treatment is usually well accepted by clinicians and implemented in clinical care.
M. Nordin Occupational and Industrial Orthopaedic Center (OIOC), Graduate Program of Ergonomics and Biomechanics, New York University (NYU), Hospital for Joint Diseases, NYU Langone Medical Center, CDC/NIOSH Education and Research Center (ERC), New York University, New York, NY, USA e-mail:
[email protected] Back Schools The evidence for efficacy from Cochrane reviews and The European Guidelines state: “There is moderate evidence suggesting that back schools, in an occupational setting, reduce pain, and improve function and return-to-work status, in the short and intermediateterm, compared to exercises, manipulation, myofascial therapy, advice, placebo or waiting list controls, for patients with chronic and recurrent LBP. However, future trials should improve methodological quality and clinical relevance and evaluate the cost-effectiveness of back schools” [2],
and “Back schools based on traditional biomedical/biomechanical information, advice and instruction are not
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M. Nordin r ecommended for prevention in LBP (strong evidence). High intensity programs, which comprise both an educational/skills program and exercises, can be recommended for patients with recurrent and persistent back pain (moderate evidence)” [2].
The European Guidelines articulated the following evidence for Back Schools and the working population: “Back schools based on traditional biomedical/biomechanical information, advice and instruction are not recommended for prevention in LBP (strong evidence). There is insufficient evidence to recommend for or against psychosocial information delivered at the worksite (weak evidence), but information oriented toward promoting activity and improving coping may promote a positive shift in beliefs (weak evidence)” [3].
These recommendations give clear guidelines for clinicians; if the patient seeks care education is important however the more classic education including biomedical/biomechanical content may not be efficient instead the education should focus on reducing fear for the condition, coping skills as well as keeping active, later publications favor individualized education once the patient is in treatment for chronic back pain. Back schools were believed to be the panacea 20 years ago; the back school concept was later reviewed and thoroughly criticized 10 years ago, and in the new millennium, a more knowledgeable informed approach is being used. Information to the patient is important, but all patients may not need the same information; the school concept has been modified within a framework of “schooling” with individualized education and more participation from the patients’ side. In fact, a recent review recommends brief education for the reduction of sick leave [4].
Information to the Individual Seeking Care in the Acute Stage of Low Back Pain Once the clinician has ascertained that the individual seeking care has benign low back (no Red Flags), i.e., nonspecific low back pain (NSLBP), the patient needs the reassurance that the condition will resolve most of the time. The information given must be unambiguous and positive and should contain the following items: • NSLBP is common and usually resolves within a couple of weeks; however, recurrence is high and a few individuals about 6–10% has chronic low back pain of unknown origin.
• Keeping as active as possible (including working) is important for recovery and bed rest for a long time is detrimental for the skeletal system as well as for the spine. • Over the counter medication is helpful, but so is a warm shower or an ice pack on back when the pain is difficult to bear the first days. • If you need help for your recovery we can help to get you back to activity, but the condition usually resolves. No treatment today has shown to be superior to the natural history of low back pain in the acute stage and the choice of treatment is vast ranging from injections, massage, manipulation, mobilization, acupuncture, physiotherapy, and others. In fact, adequate information, positive reinforcement, maintaining activity as much as possible for the first 2–4 weeks is currently the best evidence for early treatment for acute low back pain. This message may even do better if reinforced with pamphlet or brochure with the same advice. A follow up visit is important to verify progressive well being and prevention of long-term disability. If at follow-up visit the patient has not progressed in well being, the clinician has a variety of options to consider for treatment. The most important choice is between active and passive treatment. Active treatment is superior to passive treatment to regain activity and work. Passive treatment may give short relief of pain, but may also pacify the patient in not taking responsibility in their own recovery. Active treatment (exercise) and education, individually or in the form of back school (grouping patients together), are superior for regaining desired functional level. Education only without an exercise component is less effective. Patients not recovering the first month may exhibit “Yellow Flags,” i.e., psychosocial factors predicting pain distress and disability. Screening for “Yellow Flags” is crucial before the choice of treatment as it will affect the outcome of treatment [5–7].
Back Schools (Group Education) vs. Individual Education The typical back school in health care is a program delivered over 2–4 visits in a group setting of patients with subacute or chronic NSLBP. The participants in the traditional back school learn about epidemiology,
3.3 Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Low back Pain and Back Schools
the spine structures, recovery, activity, lifting, and other items of choice of the clinician teaching. The school is usually performed in a didactic fashion; however, some schools also have practical and functional teaching, for example, lifting. Pamphlet and reading material are usually distributed, and discussion is common. The information delivered was successful in that it did change the participants’ knowledge but did not change significantly the participants’ functional level or reduce the pain, which is the main goal of the back school [2]. Back schools have lost popularity over the years and the educational component is now much more individualized to the patients’ needs.
Education Individualized or in Group Education of the patient is important for any disorder that has high recurrence or may become chronic. The goal of the education should be to empower the patient to be able to manage the condition and, if necessary, get help when needed. People with back pain have different worries leading to different questions. In our clinic we are asking the patients what their questions are and what do they want to know. Education of the patient is integrated in the evaluation and treatment of the low back pain. Patients have access to a physician, physical therapist, pain manager (psychologist), or/ and ergonomist. Some patients do not want to be in a group and some patients enjoy a group interaction. The delivery of education is informal and individualized to each patient and is based on the questions asked. The goal of the education is how the clinician can empower the patient to manage the back pain and become active and self-sufficient in their daily life [8].
Comprehensive Rehabilitation The components of comprehensive rehabilitation include a careful evaluation for a specific goal (for example, return to work), and treatments based on best evidence are exercise, cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT), education, and others. Few systematic reviews have been carried out, as the field is still relatively new in combination treatment. The Cochrane Review concludes “that there is moderate evidence of positive
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effectiveness of multidisciplinary rehabilitation for subacute low back pain and that a workplace visit increases the effectiveness. But because this evidence is based on trials that had some methodological shortcomings, and several expensive multidisciplinary rehabilitation programs are commonly used for uncomplicated/nonspecific sub-acute low back problems, there is an obvious need for high quality trials in this field” [9]. We can cautiously interpret these findings as multidisciplinary treatment in a subacute phase and chronic of low back pain gives a better result than mono disciplinary care; the strongest components of such care seem to be exercise, CBT, education, and work site visit. Each of the components above will be briefly reviewed and the main outcome for this review is return to work and stay at work.
When Do A Patient Need Multimodal or Multidisciplinary Care for NSLBP? Patients with NSLBP who do not progressively recover may need a combination treatment based on signs and symptoms at revisit to prevent chronicity. A screening is appropriate at this stage. The “Red Flags” are to be screened again to ascertain that the medical diagnosis has not changed and remains NSLBP. In addition, the patient is screened for “Yellow Flags,” i.e., psychosocial factors that are best treated with CBT. Patients who have remained on passive treatment for 2–4 weeks may need an active exercise program, and if that does not work, combined with CBT. Each of these treatment exercises and CBT treatments has moderate to good evidence of efficacy; however, for the patient not progressing with one of the therapies, the combination of the two yields a better result for regaining an active lifestyle and work. The combination treatment should start within 2–3 weeks of unimodal treatment.
Exercise Treatment Exercise has shown moderate effect or moderate to excellent effect on chronic and recurrent NSLBP [10– 14]. There are many different types of exercise to choose from, but as of today, no one specific exercise regimen seems to be superior to any other exercise
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regimen; the most important seems to get the patient adopting a regular exercise regimen that the patient seems comfortable with and will continue doing. When a patient starts an exercise regimen it should be at 50% of capacity and progressively more demanding including strengthening, stretching, endurance, and aerobic exercise. Supervised exercise has better results than unsupervised in the beginning of the regimen. To get results, three visits a week is better than once a week to start an exercise regimen. Discussions with the patients regarding how to maintain a regimen during their daily life are crucial, otherwise effects of an exercise regimen may quickly fade in a couple of months. Some patients want to return to a sports activity, specific training for the chosen sports activity has to be trained and learned. Change of lifestyle and including an exercise regimen may be challenging to the patient and many patients drop out (about 50%) or do not complete treatment. It is, therefore, important to individualize the regimen to the patient’s need [15].
M. Nordin
candidate for CBT, usually two to six encounters are necessary. The utility of CBT is well supported by randomized trials, systematic reviews, and in clinical practice both in subacute and chronic NSLBP patients. CBT interventions include creative visualization, imagery, progressive muscle relaxation techniques, problem solving techniques, and others. The goal is to have the patient understand, accept, and gain control over the back pain problem and its possibly deleterious consequences by helping the patient develop adaptive coping behaviors and strategies. There is moderate-to-strong evidence that CBT should be used early if bio-psychosocial signs or symptoms are present, and there is strong evidence that CBT should be used in patients with chronic NSLBP [17, 18]. The European Guidelines recommended cognitive-behavioral treatment for patients with chronic LBP based on “conclusive evidence that there are no differences in effectiveness between the various types of behavioral therapy and that behavioral treatment is more effective for pain, functional status and behavioral outcomes than placebo/no-treatment/ waiting-list control” [3].
Cognitive Behavioral Treatment Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is based on modifying cognitions, assumptions, beliefs, and behaviors. Patients having NSLBP with a longer duration has a pain localized to the lower back without detectable lesion or cause for the pain [16]. Pain itself can lead to catastrophizing, anxiety, fear avoidance, passivity, depression, and other symptoms. There is a strong recognition nowadays that psychological and psychosocial factors are predictors of disability and nonrecovery in patient with low back pain. CBT has proven to be very successful as a therapeutic choice for these patients. The particular therapeutic techniques vary according to the need of the patient, but commonly include keeping a diary of significant events and associated feelings, thoughts, and behaviors; questioning and testing cognitions, assumptions, evaluations, and beliefs that might be unhelpful and unrealistic; gradually facing activities that might have been avoided; and trying out new ways of behaving and reacting. Relaxation and distraction techniques are also commonly included. CBT is usually given by a clinical psychologist; patients exhibiting “Yellow Flags” are referred and the patient is subjected to an in-depth evaluation consisting of a 1 h interview. If the patient is an appropriate
Multimodal Programs for Chronic Low back Pain Multimodal programs usually consist of a progressive exercise regimen, CBT, education, and/or possibly a worksite visit if the goal is to return the patient to work. This combination of modalities has been very successful in highly structured positive environment in occupational settings or workers compensation patients to reduce workloss [19–21]. However, the findings have to be interpreted with caution because there were some flaws in the methods of the few studies reviewed and the results need to be confirmed [22]. These highly structured programs warrant more research in nonoccupational settings and where the goal may be different from work loss [23].
Conclusions Persistent NSLBP for more than 4 weeks responds well to an exercise regimen, if no progress is made, CBT adds additional success. Throughout the treatment patient
3.3 Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Low back Pain and Back Schools
education should focus on how to manage possible recurrence and/or bouts of pain. The goal of the treatment should be to empower the patient to manage the condition. Staying active, active exercise regimens, and CBT are significantly more successful than passive treatment regimens for return to activity and disability (work loss), while more passive treatments such as manipulation and/or medication still have an effect on pain reduction but not necessarily return to activity including work.
References 1. Watters WC, Duszinsky B (2007) Evidence-based medicine: helping at an individual and organizational level. NASS Spineline 8–12 2. Heymans MW, van Tulder MW, Esmail R, Bombardier C, Koes BW (2005) Back schools for nonspecific low back pain: a systematic review within the framework of the Cochrane Collaboration Back Review Group. Spine 30(19):2153–2163 3. Airaksinen O, Brox JI, Cedraschi C et al (2006) Chapter 4. European guidelines for the management of chronic nonspecific low back pain. Eur Spine J 15(Suppl 2):S192–S300 4. Brox JI, Storheim K, Grotle M, Tveito TH, Indahl A, Eriksen HR (2008) Evidence-informed management of chronic low back pain with back schools, brief education, and fear-avoidance training. Spine J 8(1):28–39 5. Kendall NAS, Linton SJ, Main CJ (1997) Guide to assessing psychosocial yellow flags in acute low back pain: risk factors for long term disability and work loss. Accident Rehabilitation and Compensation Insurance Corporation of New Zealand and the National Health Committee, Wellington 6. Linton SJ, Boersma K (2003) Early identification of patients at risk of developing a persistent back problem: the predictive validity of the Orebro Musculoskeletal Pain Questionnaire. Clin J Pain 19(2):80–86 7. Weiser S, Rossignol M (2006) Triage for nonspecific lowerback pain. Clin Orthop Relat Res 443:147–155 8. Nordin M, Welser S, Campello MA, Pietrek M (2002) Selfcare techniques for acute episodes of low back pain. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol 16(1):89–104 9. Guzman J, Esmail R, Karjalainen K, Malmivaara A, Irvin E, Bombardier C (2002) Multidisciplinary bio-psycho-social
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rehabilitation for chronic low back pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev (1):CD000963 10. Abenhaim L, Rossignol M, Valat JP et al (2000) The role of activity in the therapeutic management of back pain. Report of the international Paris task force on back pain. Spine 25(Suppl 4):1S–33S 11. van Tulder MW, Malmivaara A, Esmail R, Koes BW (2000) Exercise therapy for low back pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev (2):CD000335 12. Chou R, Qaseem A, Snow V et al (2007) Diagnosis and treatment of low back pain: a joint clinical practice guideline from the American college of physicians and the American pain society. Ann Intern Med 147(7):478–491 13. Mayer J, Mooney V, Dagenais S (2008) Evidence-informed management of chronic low back pain with lumbar extensor strengthening exercises. Spine J 8(1):96–113 14. Standaert CJ, Weinstein SM, Rumpeltes J (2008) Evidenceinformed management of chronic low back pain with lumbar stabilization exercises. Spine J 8(1):114–120 15. Alexandre NM, Nordin M, Hiebert R, Campello M (2002) Predictors of compliance with short-term treatment among patients with back pain. Rev Panam Salud Publica 12(2): 86–94 16. Pither C (2007) Optimizing non-operative care. Curr Orthop 21:1–8 17. Nordin M, Balague F, Cedraschi C (2006) Nonspecific lower-back pain: surgical versus nonsurgical treatment. Clin Orthop Relat Res 443:156–167 18. Ostelo RW, van Tulder MW, Vlaeyen JW, Linton SJ, Morley SJ, Assendelft WJ (2005) Behavioural treatment for chronic low-back pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev (1):CD002014 19. Steenstra IA, Anema JR, Bongers PM, de Vet HC, Knol DL, van Mechelen W (2006) The effectiveness of graded activity for low back pain in occupational healthcare. Occup Environ Med 63(11):718–725 20. Campello MA, Weiser SR, Nordin M, Hiebert R (2006) Work retention and nonspecific low back pain. Spine 31(16): 1850–1857 21. Loisel P, Abenhaim L, Durand P et al (1997) A populationbased, randomized clinical trial on back pain management. Spine 22(24):2911–2918 22. Karjalainen K, Malmivaara A, van Tulder M, et al (2003) Multidisciplinary biopsychosocial rehabilitation for subacute low back pain among working age adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev (2):CD002193 23. Campello M, Weiser S, van Doorn JW, Nordin M (1998) Approaches to improve the outcome of patients with delayed recovery. Baillieres Clin Rheumatol 12(1):93–113
The Place of Chiropractic Care in the Treatment of Low Back Pain
3.4
Christopher J. Colloca
Introduction Indeed, the societal burden of musculoskeletal disorders transcends countries and cultures [17] and has paved the way for cooperative multidisciplinary efforts in the utilization of healthcare resources in search of the best management. To this extent, low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common musculoskeletal conditions in western society [80]. In the United States, $25 billion is spent annually on medical care services for back problems and another $50 billion is spent on lost productivity and disability payments [1]. Despite the high prevalence of LBP and the numerous conventional medical treatments used for this condition, few treatments are supported by strong scientific evidence [79]. The limited effectiveness and high costs of conventional medical treatments have contributed to a high level of utilization of complementary and alternative medical (CAM) therapies both in the United States and around the world [3, 33]. In fact, studies suggest that between 30 and 50% of the adult population in industrialized nations use some form of CAM to prevent or treat a variety of health-related problems [3]. Spinal manipulation, performed mostly by chiropractors in the United States [72], is the most popular CAM therapy for back pain [7]. In just over 100 years since its inception, chiropractic has risen to become the largest profession practicing outside traditional mainstream medicine in the United States and many countries internationally [58]. Categorized under the umbrella of Complementary and Alternative Medicine,
C. J. Colloca Department of Kinesiology, Arizona State University, 101 South Roosevelt Avenue, Chandler, AZ 85226, USA e-mail:
[email protected] chiropractic has made the largest progression into private and public healthcare financing systems, mainly due to consumer demand and patient satisfaction [58]. These factors, together with scientific inquiry, have increasingly influenced chiropractic to be viewed as an effective specialty by many within the medical profession [3].
Chiropractic Education, Training, and Practice Born in the United States, there are currently approximately 60,000 chiropractors practicing in the U.S. and an additional 90,000 chiropractors throughout the world [58]. Chiropractic has been licensed in all 50 United States since 1974 and is covered by most insurance plans in the U.S. [63, 74]. Additionally, the practice is licensed or recognized by government health authorities in all Canadian provinces and in over 30 countries worldwide, including Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, England, Germany, the Netherlands, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Mexico, and the Russian Federation [14, 54, 68]. Just as it does for other healthcare professionals, each of the 50 states in the U.S. has its own scope of practice statutes and regulations and licensing requirements for chiropractic doctors [16]. Typically, the scope of practice of chiropractors in the different states includes broad diagnostic authority including radiography and laboratory analysis, although some states limit the use of invasive procedures, such as needle electromyographic (EMG) or phlebotomy, in diagnostic testing. All states authorize chiropractors to use spinal manipulation as a primary intervention, and the majority of states permit the practice of physiological therapeutics under the
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scope of chiropractic practice. Chiropractors in the US are not allowed to prescribe drugs or perform major surgery from chiropractic practice. However, some states authorize certain minor surgeries [54].
Chiropractic Education and Training Since 1974, standards for chiropractic education have been established and monitored by the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE). Recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as the specialized accrediting agency for chiropractic education, the CCE sets and monitors standards for the curriculum, faculty and staff, facilities, patient care, and research [16]. A chiropractic education program consists of four academic years of professional education averaging a total of
4,822 h, and ranging from 4,400 to 5,220 h in the 16 colleges [45]. Table 3.4.1 provides a review of coursework in a typical chiropractic educational program. The program of study at all chiropractic schools is divided into Basic and Clinical Sciences with an overwhelming emphasis on clinical training (70% of the curriculum). Basic sciences education includes an average of 570 h of anatomy (40% of all basic science hours), 305 h of physiology (21%), 205 h of pathology (14%), 150 h of biochemistry (11%), 120 h of microbiology (8%), and 70 h of public health (5%) [16]. Table 3.4.2 provides a glance of specific clinical subjects taught in chiropractic college and the average total contact hours in chiropractic education. This includes an average of 1,975 h in clinical sciences and 1,405 h of clinical training. A recent study comparing chiropractic and medical education collected data on all chiropractic and
Table 3.4.1 Subjects taught in a typical trimester-based chiropractic program, by year and numbers of contact hours (From [16]) Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 General anatomy (210)a
Pharmacotoxicology (30)
Integrated chiropractic clinical application (90)
Functional anatomy and biomechanics (210)
Clinical microbiology (90)
Physiological therapeutics (30)
Histology (90)
Pathology (135)
Chiropractic principles (75)
Human biochem. (105)
Chiropr. principles (60)
Practice management (75)
Chiropr. principles (90)
Chiropr. procedures (300)
Imaging interpretation (90)
Clinical chiropractic (60)
Physics and clinical imaging (90)
Radiological position and technique (30)
Palpation (120)
Clinical orthopedics and neurology (180)
Differential diagnosis (90)
Neuroscience (120)
Nutritional assessment (60)
Clinical application of manual procedures (60)
Normal radiological anatomy (90)
Community health (60)
Clinical internship (390)
Human physiology (135)
Physiological therapeutics (105)
Dermatology (15)
Fundamentals of nutrition (60)
Clinical nutrition (60)
Clinical psychology (15)
Introduction to physical examination skills (120)
Research methods (30)
Obstetrics/gynecology (15)
Chiropractic procedures (105)
Practice management (30)
Pediatrics (15)
Imaging interpretation (75)
Geriatrics (15)
Differential diagnosis (90)
Clinical laboratory clerkship (15)
Clinical internship (450)
Clinical chiropr. applied (90) Total hours: 1,515 Total HRS: 1,485 Number of contact hours is noted in parentheses
a
Total HRS: 1,410
Total: 450
3.4 The Place of Chiropractic Care in the Treatment of Low Back Pain Table 3.4.2 Average total contact hours in specific clinical subjects taught in 16 chiropractic colleges including lecture and laboratory (From [16]) Clinical subject Hours Percentage of Total Adjustive technique/spinal analysis
555
22
Physical/clinical/laboratory diagnosis
410
17
Diagnostic imaging, radiology
305
12
Principles of chiropractic
245
10
Orthopedics
135
6
Physiologic therapeutics
120
5
Nutrition/dietetics
90
4
Professional practice and ethics
65
3
Biomechanics
65
3
Gynecology/obstetrics
55
2
Psychology
55
2
Research methods
50
2
Clinical pediatrics and geriatrics
50
2
First aid and emergency
45
2
Dermatology
30
1
Otolaryngology
25
1
Other
160
7
Total hours of clinical training
2,460
100
medical schools in North America and performed an in-depth analysis of three chiropractic and three medical schools [29]. The chiropractic programs’ 4 years of undergraduate education totaling approximately 4,800 contact hours was similar to medical programs (4 undergraduate years, with approximately the same number of contact hours (4,667)), but typically with an additional 3-year residency to meet the requirements for practice. Basic science comprises 25–30% of the total contact hours in both the chiropractic and medical programs and the two programs have roughly similar contact hours in biochemistry, microbiology, and pathology. Chiropractors receive substantially more hours in anatomy education and physiology, but fewer in public health. The contrast between the two programs is dramatic in the area of clinical clerkships, which averaged 3,467 h in medicine vs. 1,405 h in chiropractic. In medicine,
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this comprises, on average, 74% of the total contact hours, while in chiropractic training, it comprises only 29%. Some of the difference may be explained by the manner in which chiropractic and medical programs are structured. In chiropractic, 41% of the program (averaging 1,975 h) is allocated to chiropractic clinical sciences, which consists of extensive laboratory and hands-on training in manual procedures and has no equivalent in medicine. Combining the chiropractic clinical sciences with the clinical clerkships, the percentage of a chiropractic program devoted to clinical education is 70% compared to medicine’s 74%. The major difference, therefore, is in didactic teaching and clinical experience [16]. Thus, on average, medical students receive twice the number of hours in clinical experience, but receive over 1,000 fewer hours in lectures and laboratory education. If the medical residency is included, the total number of hours of clinical experience for medicine increases to 6,413 [29].
Chiropractic Practice One indicator of chiropractic mainstreaming into healthcare is the steadily increasing use by patients in the United States and around the world. Studies suggest that between 30 and 50% of the adult population in industrialized nations use some form of CAM to prevent or treat a variety of health-related problems [3]. Today, it is estimated that CAM is responsible for 629 million visits per year to practitioners of CAM, thereby exceeding total visits to all U.S. primary care physicians [33]. The Journal of the American Medical Association [33] reports that estimated expenditures for CAM professional services are conservatively estimated at $21.2 billion, with at least $12.2 billion paid out-of-pocket. This exceeds the 1997 out-of-pocket expenditures for all U.S. hospitalizations. Clearly, efficacy and patient satisfaction are driving these trends of public demand and utilization. Of all the so-called CAM professions, chiropractic has made the largest inroads into private and public healthcare financing systems and is increasingly viewed as an effective specialty by many in the medical profession. In fact, large numbers of physicians are either referring to or practicing themselves some of the more prominent and wellknown forms of CAM and many physicians believe that these therapies are useful or efficacious [3]. Another recent study of physicians’ attitudes toward CAM determined
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that over half of providers had referred a patient for biofeedback or chiropractic care [67]. In 1998, Astin et al. [3] published the results of their comprehensive literature search that identified 25 surveys that examined the practices and beliefs of conventional physicians with regard to five of the more prominent CAM therapies: acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathy, herbal medicine, and massage. Across surveys, chiropractic had the highest rate of physician referral (40%) among the five CAM therapies. Approximately half of the surveyed physicians believed in the efficacy of chiropractic (53%), while fewer believed in the value of homeopathy (26%) and herbal approaches (13%). This review suggests that large numbers of physicians are either referring to or utilizing some of the more prominent and well-known forms of CAM, and specifically chiropractic. Indeed, cooperative care between doctors of chiropractic and other medical physicians is an important factor in the place of chiropractic care in the treatment of LBP. Chiropractors play a significant role in healthcare delivery for patients. A recent study estimated that approximately 7% of U.S. adults had received chiropractic treatment in the past year [32, 33]. A substantial number of patients seeking care for back pain in the U.S. (25–42%) utilize chiropractic care. An analysis of the 1974–1982 RAND Health Insurance Experiment data found that chiropractors were the first healthcare providers seen for 38% of episodes of back pain and that chiropractors were the “primary” provider (i.e., the provider type that delivered the majority of care) for 40% of LBP episodes [72]. Furthermore, this study determined that chiropractors were retained as primary provider for 92% of their patients who had a second episode of back pain, compared to 75% retention for general medical practitioners. Thus, many back pain patients have used chiropractors as first contact primary providers of care for at least this specific problem. A recent study by Wolsko et al. [82] found that of those reporting back or neck pain in the last 12 months, 37% had seen a conventional provider and 54% had used complementary therapies to treat their condition. Chiropractic, massage, and relaxation techniques were the most commonly used complementary treatments for back or neck pain (20, 14, and 12%, respectively, of those with back or neck pain). Chiropractic, massage, and relaxation techniques were rated as “very helpful” for back or neck pain among users (61, 65, and 43%, respectively), whereas conventional providers were rated as “very helpful” by 27% of users. It is estimated that nearly one-third of all complementary provider visits in 1997 (203 million of
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629 million) were made specifically for the treatment of back or neck pain [82]. A brief review of the chiropractic patient encounter will assist in understanding the role of chiropractic care in this patient population.
The Chiropractic Patient Encounter The majority of patients visiting doctors of chiropractic suffer musculoskeletal complaints, namely LBP, while the remainder seeks care for head, neck, or extremity pain [48]. Like in medicine, the chiropractic patient encounter begins with a detailed health history, followed by consultation, physical examination, and clinical decision making to form a diagnostic impression. Chiropractic doctors are licensed to perform and interpret plain film radiography, and are less likely than medical physicians to utilize advanced diagnostic imaging [31]. Using standard historical, diagnostic, and assessment procedures, chiropractors attempt to differentiate problems of mechanical vs. visceral origin [16]. Such information is critical to clinical decision making including a chiropractic referral to the patient’s primary care physician. Some mechanical assessment strategies are common to orthopedic and physical medicine procedures [20, 28] and others are unique to chiropractic [70]. Four kinds of measurements provide relevant information about patient clinical status and/or response to treatment in chiropractic practice. In general, they are: (1) perceptual measurements (i.e., reports of pain severity and pain tolerance), (2) structural measurements (i.e., anomalies, pathology, or posture), (3) functional measurements (i.e., range of motion, strength, stiffness, activities of daily living), and (4) physiologic measurements (i.e., neurologic assessment, laboratory examinations) (Fig. 3.4.1). The chiropractic literature is also paying increased attention to the role pain behavior and psychosocial issues play in conditions such as back pain and to the evaluation and management strategies in these areas [10]. Typical chiropractic care plans are similar to those in physical therapy, with recurring visit frequency until treatment goals are obtained or re-evaluated. Outcome measures, including pain indices, functional disabilities, perceived health status, range of motion, posture, and muscle strength, are among variables to assess patient progress. Both qualitative and quantitative clinical assessments are used for diagnostic and outcome assessment purposes in chiropractic practice (Table 3.4.3) [20].
Posture Anomaly
Functional
3.4 The Place of Chiropractic Care in the Treatment of Low Back Pain
Pathology
Structural
Spine
Assessment
Physiological
Neurological Testing Perceptual
Outcomes
Proprioception Range of Motion
Pain Threshold Health Status
Strength Stiffness Endurance
Thermography Muscle Testing
Fig. 3.4.1 Categorization of spine instrument measures (perceptual, structural, functional, and physiological) and the associated tests in each category
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Chiropractic Treatment: Spinal Manipulation The main intervention among chiropractic practitioners is spinal manipulation, also known as the chiropractic adjustment, a term preferred by many chiropractors to better characterize the perceived therapeutic effect of targeting spinal joint abnormalities [45]. There are over one-hundred distinct chiropractic, osteopathic, and physical therapy manipulation techniques, a large array of highly specialized adjusting tables and equipment, and a great deal of variation in the specific techniques used by individual practitioners [45]. Estimates have indicated that approximately 96% of SMT is performed by chiropractors [71]. There are four terms with distinct definitions that are frequently used to characterize manual manipulative
Table 3.4.3 Qualitative clinical assessments and their quantitative counterparts examined in chiropractic practice (From [20]) Test Qualitative (findings) Quantitative (units of measurement) Perceived pain, disability, and/or functional status
Patients’ subjective description (patient demeanor)
Outcome assessment instruments (numerical score compared to normative values)
Pain threshold or pain tolerance
Palpation for pain (tenderness, grading of trigger points)
Pressure algometry (psi, kg/cm2, or Pa)
Posture
Visual postural analysis (i.e., head tilt, high shoulder, etc.)
Postural grid photographySurface topographical measures Computer assisted digitization Diagnostic imaging (X-ray, MRI, CT) (millimeters or degrees)
Range of motion
Visual estimation (restricted mobility, pain production or reproduction)
Inclinometric measurement Goniometric measurement (degrees)
Intersegmental range of motion
Motion palpation (articular fixation, pain)
Spinal stiffness assessments Static/quasi-static (N/m) Dynamic (Kg−1, Kg, m/Ns, Ns/m, m/N) Instantaneous axis of rotation (degrees) Instantaneous helical axis (radians)
Muscle strength
Muscle testing (grading 0–5)
Dynamometric measurement (kg or lbs.)Computerized and digital equipment (kg or lbs.) Load cell or strain gauge types B200 (kg or lbs.) EMG (mV)
Muscle endurance
Muscle testing (grading 0–5)
Biering-Sorensen test (time duration, sec., of task performance) EMG (median frequency analysis) (Hz)
Muscle spasm
Palpatory myospasm assessment
Surface electromyography (mV)
Nerve function
Orthopedic/neurologic exam (i.e., mechanical tests, stretch tests, deep tendon reflex, dermatomal sensation)
Nerve conduction velocity (ms)Needle electromyography (mV) H-Reflex (mV) Somatosensory evoked potentials (mV) Current perception threshold (mV) Thermography (degrees C or F)
Pathology
History, inspection, palpation
Diagnostic imaging Laboratory analysis
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methods: specific contact thrust procedures (i.e., high velocity, low amplitude [HVLA] thrusts), nonspecific contact thrust procedures (i.e., mobilization), manual force, mechanically-assisted procedures (i.e., drop tables or flexion-distraction tables), and mechanical force, manually-assisted procedures (i.e., stationary or hand-held instruments) [45]. The general umbrella term of spinal manipulative therapy is often used to encompass all types of manual techniques regardless of their precise anatomic and physiologic focus or their discipline of origin. Mobilization is defined as passive movement of a joint within its physiologic range of motion. This roughly equates to the range of motion a joint can typically be taken through by its intrinsic musculature. Manipulation is passive joint movement, which takes the joint beyond its physiologic range into the paraphysiologic space. When a joint is moved into this “para-physiologic” range, cavitation can occur, which, in a synovial joint, is typified by an audible release or “pop.” The audible joint cavitation is not a necessary element of spinal manipulation, although its occurrence is commonplace. Studies have identified that the audible release has not been found to be associated with the neuromuscular reflex responses [21, 24] (Fig. 3.4.2) thought to be related to the mechanisms of spinal manipulation or clinical outcomes [7, 34, 35]. In contrast, although poorly understood, the speed of the spinal manipulative thrust has been reported to be of prime importance to the mechanisms of treatment [24–26, 46, 75]. Both mobilization and manipulation are used to facilitate joint motion. When applied in manual medicine and physical therapy, assessment and manipulative treatment tend to focus exclusively on joint pain and restriction. Chiropractors typically consider the nature and mode of condition onset, muscle spasm, pain radiation patterns, static and dynamic postures, and/or gaits as well as joint pain in determining whether or not a mechanical intervention should be applied [16]. For instance, the spinal areas manipulated using typical manual medicine and physical therapy assessment approaches are often based on which joints or regions have restricted motion. In contrast to physical therapy or manual medicine, the decision as to which area to manipulate using various chiropractic techniques may be based upon pain radiation patterns, which paraspinal muscle regions are taut and how they are innervated, the biomechanical function of affected joints compared to that of adjacent areas, and the mechanics involved in
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Fig. 3.4.2 Dynamic spinal stiffness assessment is performed with a hand-held electromechanical device equipped with an impedance head (Impulse iQ® Adjusting Instrument, Neuro mechanical Innovations, Chandler, AZ, U.S.A.), while simultaneous electromyographic (EMG) measurement is obtained from the adjacent erector spinae muscles. In this manner the muscular contributions to spinal stiffness can be taken into consideration during the neuromechanical assessment
initial onset [27, 39, 40]. Thus, the regions manipulated by chiropractors may not directly correspond to the symptomatic region or to the area that a nonchiropractor may feel is the site of the manipulable lesion.
Mechanisms of Spinal Manipulation Recognizing the enormous impact of LBP to healthcare, research has been conducted to elucidate the role of somatic structures as sources of LBP. In recent years, neurophysiologic and neuroanatomic investigations have been conducted to identify and characterize somatosensory units located within the tissues of the lumbar spine to clarify their role in LBP. Devices such as glass rods, metal probes, nylon threads, and electrical impulses have been used to mechanically stimulate somatic structures and afferent units [4, 11, 60, 86]. Mechanosensitive and nociceptive afferents have been identified in the lumbar intervertebral disks [5, 12, 61, 66], zygapophyseal joints [13, 55, 56, 86], spinal ligaments [11, 49, 50, 85], and the paraspinal musculature [6, 87] in both animal and human studies. This research, and that of others [53], has identified these tissues as probable sources of LBP and somatic referred pain [6, 30, 39, 59]. Spinal nerve roots and dorsal root ganglia have also been shown to be the
3.4 The Place of Chiropractic Care in the Treatment of Low Back Pain
source of radicular pain [15, 38]. Beneficial effects of SMT have been thought to be associated with mechanosensitive afferent stimulation and presynaptic inhibition of nociceptive afferent transmission in the modulation of pain [81, 83], inhibition of hypertonic muscles [76], and improvement of functional ability [57, 71, 77]. While the mechanisms of spinal manipulation remain poorly understood, its beneficial clinical effects are thought to be related to mechanical, neurophysiologic, and reflexogenic mechanisms [47]. Mechanical models have evolved with the theory that spinal manipulation produces realignment and improved function of misaligned and dysfunctional functional spinal units (FSUs) resultant from the spinal manipulative treatment, thus referred to as chiropractic adjustment [78]. Recent evidence has demonstrated that significant FSU movements are produced by spinal manipulation in selected treatments applied to animal models [24, 25, 36, 73] and in human studies [37, 51, 52, 62]. Neurophysiologic models theorize that spinal manipulation may also stimulate or modulate the somatosensory system and subsequently may evoke neuromuscular reflexes [19, 21–23, 26, 47, 65, 84]. Such mechanical and neurophysiologic studies suggest that joint manipulation may have both direct and indirect clinical benefits. Research efforts have further measured neuromuscular and neurophysiological responses of spinal manipulation thought to be associated with nociceptive inhibition [41–44, 64]. The heterogeneity of spinal pain, along with the lack of definitive diagnoses, highlights the need to better understand the underlying physiologic and psychological mechanisms of pain and disability and the role chiropractic care plays in patient care.
Clinical Outcomes of Spinal Manipulation for Low Back Pain Spinal manipulation is one of the most widely studied conservative treatments for spinal pain. To date, over 100 randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) on some form of spinal manipulation have appeared in the literature [58]. Nearly half of the RCTs have studied the effects of spinal manipulation on acute, subacute, and chronic LBP. Although the results are controversial, over half of these studies favored spinal manipulation over the comparison treatments in at least a subgroup of patients. Subsequent systematic reviews have reported
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that there was moderately strong evidence of a shortterm benefit of manipulation for both acute and chronic back pain, but insufficient evidence for or against the effectiveness of manipulation for sciatica. In a 2003 metaanalysis of the effectiveness of spinal manipulative therapy for LBP relative to other therapies, Assendelft and co-workers’ [2] spinal manipulative therapy was found to have similar outcome effectiveness when compared to general practitioner care, analgesics, physical therapy, exercises, or back school. In this work, spinal manipulative therapy had clinically and statistically significant benefits only when it was compared with either sham manipulation or the group of therapies judged to be ineffective or even harmful. Despite the many published randomized clinical trials (RCTs), a substantial number of reviews, and several national clinical guidelines, much controversy still remains regarding the evidence for or against efficacy of spinal manipulation for LBP. An extensive systematic review and best evidence synthesis was conducted by Bronfort and colleagues in 2004 [9] to reassess the efficacy of spinal manipulative therapy and mobilization for the management of LBP, with special attention to applying more stringent criteria for study admissibility into evidence and for isolating the effect of manipulation and/or mobilization. In this report, 69 RCTs met the study selection criteria and were reviewed and assigned validity scores varying from 6 to 81 on a scale of 0–100. Forty-three RCTs met the admissibility criteria for evidence. The following conclusions were made for acute and chronic LBP and their mix [9]: • Acute LBP: There is moderate evidence that spinal manipulation provides more short-term pain relief than mobilization and detuned diathermy, and limited evidence of faster recovery than a commonly used physical therapy treatment strategy. • Chronic LBP: There is moderate evidence that manipulation has an effect similar to an efficacious prescription nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug; manipulation/mobilization is effective in the short term when compared with placebo and general practitioner care, and in the long term compared to physical therapy. There is limited to moderate evidence that spinal manipulation is better than physical therapy and home back exercise in both the short and long term. There is limited evidence that spinal manipulation is superior to sham manipulation in the short term and superior to chemonucleolysis for
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disk herniation in the short term. However, there is also limited evidence that mobilization is inferior to back exercise after disk herniation surgery. • Mix of Acute and Chronic LBP: Spinal manipulation/mobilization provides either similar or better pain outcomes in the short and long term when compared with placebo and with other treatments, such as McKenzie therapy, medical care, management by physical therapists, soft tissue treatment, and back school. The positive reports for the clinical effectiveness of spinal manipulation have recently paved way for the inclusion of spinal manipulation into well-established clinical guidelines, as recently been published in the American Pain Society/American College of Physicians Clinical Practice Guideline [18]. Chou et al. [18] assessed the benefits and harms of a number of interventions including spinal manipulation for acute and chronic LBP (with and without leg pain). The authors recommended, “for patients who do not improve with self-care options, clinicians should consider the addition of nonharmcologic therapy with proven benefits – for acute, chronic or subacute LBP, spinal manipulation …” among other established interventions. Further research is necessary to better understand which patients respond best to chiropractic interventions. Moreover, while preliminary evidences for spinal manipulation in patients with disk protrusion and sciatica are encouraging [8, 69], continued investigations will assist in better understanding the effects of chiropractic care in this patient population.
Conclusions The chiropractic profession has evolved in its education and training and research status to be an accepted healthcare provider for patients with many musculoskeletal conditions including LBP. In the past few decades, chiropractic has strengthened its educational system; initiated research that has validated spinal manipulation; increased its market share of satisfied patients; initiated collaborations with other disciplines in practice, research, and professional settings; and effectively used political, legislative, and legal measures to secure a role [58]. Continued progress toward multidisciplinary cooperative efforts will assist patients who benefit from the care of chiropractic providers.
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C. J. Colloca 71. Shekelle PG (1994) Spinal manipulation. Spine 19: 858–861 72. Shekelle PG, Adams AH, Chassin MR, Hurwitz EL, Brook RH (1992) Spinal manipulation for low-back pain. Ann Intern Med 117:590–598 73. Smith DB, Fuhr AW, Davis BP (1989) Skin accelerometer displacement and relative bone movement of adjacent vertebrae in response to chiropractic percussion thrusts. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 12:26–37 74. Stano M, Smith M (1996) Chiropractic and medical costs of low back care. Med Care 34:191–204 75. Suter E, Herzog W, Conway PJ, Zhang YT (1994) Reflex response associated with manipulative treatment of the thoracic spine. J Neuromusculoskeletal Syst 2:124–130 76. Thabe H (1986) Electromyography as a tool to document diagnostic findings and therapeutic results associated with somatic dysfunctions in the upper cervical spinal joints and sacroiliac joints. Man Med 2:53–58 77. Triano JJ, McGregor M, Hondras MA, Brennan PC (1995) Manipulative therapy versus education programs in chronic low back pain. Spine 20:948–955 78. Troyanovich SJ, Harrison DE, Harrison DD (1998) Structural rehabilitation of the spine and posture: rationale for treatment beyond the resolution of symptoms. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 21:37–50 79. van Tulder MW, Koes BW, Bouter LM (1997) Conservative treatment of acute and chronic nonspecific low back pain. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials of the most common interventions. Spine 22:2128–2156 80. Waddell G (1996) Low back pain: a twentieth century health care enigma. Spine 21:2820–2825 81. Willis W, Coggeshall R (1991) Sensory mechanisms of the spinal cord, 2nd edn. Plenum, New York 82. Wolsko PM, Eisenberg DM, Davis RB, Kessler R, Phillips RS (2003) Patterns and perceptions of care for treatment of back and neck pain: results of a national survey. Spine 28:292–297 83. Wyke B (1980) Articular neurology and manipulative therapy. Lincoln Institute of Health Sciences, Carlton, Victoria, pp 67–72 84. Wyke B (1985) Articular neurology and manipulative therapy. In: Glasgow E, Twomey L, Scull E, Kleynhans A, Idczak R (eds) Aspects of manipulative therapy. ChurchillLivingstone, New York, pp 72–77 85. Yahia LH, Newman N, Rivard CH (1988) Neurohistology of lumbar spine ligaments. Acta Orthop Scand 59:508–512 86. Yamashita T, Cavanaugh JM, el-Bohy AA, Getchell TV, King AI (1990) Mechanosensitive afferent units in the lumbar facet joint. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 72:865–870 87. Yamashita T, Minaki Y, Oota I, Yokogushi K, Ishii S (1993) Mechanosensitive afferent units in the lumbar intervertebral disc and adjacent muscle. Spine 18:2252–2256
Efficacy of IDET and PIRFT for the Treatment of Discogenic Low Back Pain
3.5
Brian J. C. Freeman
Percutaneous intradiscal thermocoagulation techniques were introduced in 2000 by Saal et al. [1] as a minimally invasive treatment option for patients with discogenic low back pain (LBP). Controlled thermal energy is delivered to the intervertebral disc via a percutaneous intradiscal catheter inserted under radio logical guidance. There are two different techniques depending on whether the heat is generated by a thermal resistive coil (Intra-Discal Electrothermal Therapy [IDET]) or radiofrequency (Percutaneous Intradiscal Radio-Frequency Thermocoagulation [PIRFT]). The objective of both techniques is to shrink collagen fibrils and thermocoagulate inflammatory and neural tissues within the disc. This chapter reviews the current literature and assesses the safety and efficacy of both procedures in the treatment of discogenic LBP.
Fig. 3.5.1 Patient in the prone position. Introducer needles have been positioned in both the L4/5 and the L5/S1 discs using a postero-lateral approach. IDET catheters have been positioned to cover the posterior annulus and the L4/5 IDET catheter has been connected to the generator (from Freeman [32], with permission)
Intra-Discal Electrothermal Therapy (IDET) The IDET technique involves placement of a navigable intradiscal catheter (Fig. 3.5.1) (Smith and Nephew Inc, Andover, Massachusetts, USA) with a temperature-controlled thermal resistive heating coil to a final position at the inner posterior annulus (Fig. 3.5.2a, b). The standard heating protocol raises the catheter tip temperature from 65 to 90°C over 12.5 min. The temperature is maintained at 90°C for 4 min. According to Saal et al., this creates annular temperatures between
B. J. C. Freeman Department of Spinal Surgery, Level 3, Theatre Block, Royal Adelaide Hospital, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia e-mail:
[email protected] 60 and 65°C [1]. The authors proposed the mechanism of action of IDET to be a combination of thermo-coagulation of native nociceptors and in-grown un-myelinated nerve fibres plus annular collagen shrinkage stabilizing annular fissures. There followed a number of prospective cohort studies reporting favourable outcomes following IDET [1–6] and some less favourable [7, 8]. Saal et al. reported on the 24 month outcome in a cohort of 62 patients [6]. The mean visual analogue score (VAS) dropped from 6.57 to 3.41. The average sitting time increased by 52.7 min. Eighty-one percent of patients showed at least a 7.0 point improvement in physical function and 78% at least a 7.0 point improvement in bodily pain, as measured by the Short-Form 36 (SF-36) questionnaire. Derby et al. reported 32 consecutive cases of IDET
M. Szpalski et al. (eds.), Surgery for Low Back Pain, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-04547-9_3.5, © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2010
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96 Fig. 3.5.2 (a) Anteroposterior and (b). Lateral radiograph showing optimal position of IDET catheter in the L4/5 disc (from Freeman [32], with permission)
B. J. C. Freeman
a
treating both discrete annular fissures and global disc degeneration [2]. The mean VAS improved by 1.84 (Standard Deviation [SD] ± 2.38) and the mean Roland Morris score improved by 4.03 (SD ± 4.82). No significant difference was noted in the outcome measures reported at 6 months and 12 months. Overall, 62.5% had a favourable outcome, 25% no change and 12.5% had a non-favourable outcome. One patient underwent a spine fusion due to persistent discogenic LBP. A number of low quality retrospective studies were reported in the literature, some positive [10] and some negative [9, 11, 12]. Webster et al. investigated the outcome of workers’ compensation claimants following IDET [13]. The authors identified 142 cases treated by 97 different healthcare providers. The mean follow-up was 22 months. Ninety-six (68%) of the cases did not meet one or more of the published inclusion criteria. Fifty-three of one hundred and forty-two cases (37%) had at least one lumbar injection and 32 of 142 cases (23%) had lumbar surgery after IDET. The procedure appeared to be less effective when performed by a variety of providers, compared to the original series performed by single providers. In a prospective quasi-controlled study, Karasek reported on 53 patients who were offered IDET for treatment of LBP due to internal disc disruption [14]. Authority to undergo IDET was sought from the patient’s insurance carriers. Authority was obtained in 36, but denied in 17. The 36 patients constituted the treatment group and underwent IDET. The 17 patients constituted the “control” group and underwent a rehabilitation programme. The control group was followed for 3 months: the median VAS was 8 (range 5–8) before rehabilitation and 8 (range 7–8) at 3 months. The IDET
b
group had a median VAS of 8 (range 7–9) before treatment reducing to 3 (range 1–7) at 12 months. The authors concluded that IDET relieved discogenic pain, had a success rate between 20 and 60% and was superior to physical rehabilitation. Bogduk subsequently reported the 24 month outcome in the IDET group [15]. Fifty-four percent of patients reduced their pain by half, with one in five patients achieving complete relief of pain. This study has a number of methodological flaws and its conclusions are at best speculative. Pauza et al. reported a randomized placebo-controlled trial of IDET for the treatment of chronic discogenic LBP [16]. Under light sedation, the 17-guage introducer needle was inserted down to the outer aspect of the annulus fibrosus. At this point, the randomization schedule was revealed to the principle investigator. Randomization employed a 3:2 ratio (3 IDET: 2 sham). For those randomized to active treatment, the intra-discal catheter was inserted and appropriately positioned, followed by the standard heating protocol. For those randomized to sham treatment, the introducer needle remained in position, but no catheter was inserted. The patient was exposed to a fluoroscope monitor showing passage of an intradiscal catheter and manufactured generator noises for 16.5 min to mimic an active treatment. Outcomes including VAS, SF-36 and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were assessed prior to treatment and after 6 months. Publicizing the study attracted enquiries from 4,253 people. From 1,360 individuals prepared to submit to randomization, 260 (19.1%) were found potentially eligible after clinical examination and 64 became eligible after lumbar discography (4.7%). Thirty-seven were allocated to IDET and 27 to sham treatment. After treatment, eight patients (12.5%) violated the study
3.5 Efficacy of IDET and PIRFT for the Treatment of Discogenic Low Back Pain
protocol mandating rejection from the analysis, leaving a total of 56 patients: 32 from the IDET group and 24 from the sham group. Both groups exhibited significant improvement in the VAS, but improvements in the IDET group were greater than the sham group (p > 0.045). For patients in the IDET group, the mean VAS dropped from 6.6 to 4.2, (SD 2.3) and the mean ODI dropped 31 to 20 (SD 11). For patients in the sham group, the mean VAS dropped from 6.5 to 5.4 (SD 2.6) and the mean ODI dropped from 33 to 28 (SD 12). Taking this into context, the “advantage” for IDET patients over sham patients was 1.3 points on the VAS (p > 0.045) and seven points on the ODI (p > 0.05). There were no significant differences in the SF-36 subsets bodily pain or physical function between groups. IDET was not a universally successful treatment; 50% of patients did not experience any appreciable benefit and 40% of patients achieved greater than 50% relief of their pain. Freeman et al. conducted a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with crossover offered to the placebo subjects when un-blinding occurred at 6 months [17]. A total of 57 subjects were enrolled without inducement, according to strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. All subjects had chronic discogenic LBP, marked functional disability, degenerative disc disease as evidenced by magnetic resonance scan, failed conservative management and one or two-level symptomatic disc degeneration as determined by provocative lumbar discography followed by postdiscography computed tomography. The study adopted a 2:1 (IDET: Placebo) randomization schedule. From 57 subjects, 38 were randomized to IDET and 19 to sham treatment. Under light neuroleptic anaesthesia, the 17-gauge introducer needle was inserted followed by successful deployment of the IDET catheter in all cases. The catheter lead was passed to an independent technician. This technician then opened a sealed envelope to ascertain the randomization schedule and covertly either connected the catheter to the generator (active IDET group) or did not (sham group). Both surgeon and subject were blinded to this step. The standard heating protocol was followed. Subjects were reviewed at 6 weeks and 6 months by an independent observer. Outcome measures recorded at baseline and 6 months included the VAS (back pain), the LBP outcome score (LBOS), the ODI, the SF-36 (Australian version), the Zung Depression Index (ZDI), the Modified Somatic Perception Questionnaire (MSPQ),
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sitting tolerance, work tolerance, medication and the presence of any neurological deficit. Successful outcome was defined as one demonstrating all of the following: No neurological deficit resulting from the procedure, an improvement in the LBOS of seven or more points and an improvement in the SF-36 subscales bodily pain and physical functioning of greater than one SD from the mean. The 2:1 (IDET: Placebo) randomization produced two groups with well-matched baseline outcome scores. Two subjects (both from IDET group) from 57 (3.5%) withdrew from the study and subsequently went on to have spinal fusion. No subject in either treatment arm met the joint criteria for “success”. The specified primary analysis showed no difference between the treatments. Secondary outcomes were compared at baseline and 6 months. These included comparisons of change in LBOS, ODI, Zung Depression Inventory, MSPQ and SF-36 scores. There were no significant changes in any of the aforementioned outcome measures. No fewer than eight subgroup analyzes were undertaken to search for any significant differences between groups. No statistically significant or clinically important differences were noted. There were no serious adverse events in either group. Transient radiculopathy ( 7.0 SF-36 PF > 1 SD SF-36 BP > 1 SD
37.5 40.2
IDET Placebo
42 40
Comparison of mean categorical outcomes
ODI oswestry disability index: higher score indicates greater disability; PF physical function sub-set of SF-36: higher score indicates better physical function; BP bodily pain sub-set of SF-36: higher score indicates lower levels of pain Adapted from Freeman et al. [17], with permission
breakage [19, 20], nerve root injury, disc herniation [21], cauda equina syndrome [22–24], vertebral body osteonecrosis [25, 26] and discitis [11].
Percutaneous Intradiscal RadioFrequency Thermocoagulation (PIRFT) Barendse reported on a variation of percutaneous intradiscal thermocoagulation using heat generated by radiofrequency in 2001 [27]. The “lesion” was made in the centre of the disc using a radiofrequency probe (Radionics, Burlington, MA, USA). It has been speculated that the anti-nociceptive effect of PIRFT is caused by a temperature increase of the free nerve endings in the outer annulus fibrosus. Barendse et al. conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of PIRFT for
chronic discogenic LBP [27]. Thirteen patients were randomized to receive a 90-s 70°C lesion and 15 were allocated to the sham group. Eight weeks following treatment there were two treatment successes in the “sham group” and one in the “lesion group”. No significant differences were observed in the pre and postVAS, global perceived effect or ODI in either group. The authors concluded that PIRFT was not effective in reducing chronic discogenic LBP. Ercelen conducted a RCT comparing two different modalities of PIRFT [28]. The radiofrequency probe was heated to 80°C and either held for 120 or 360 s. Pain and disability were assessed at 6 months. As compared with baseline values, pain and disability improved by 1 month in both groups, but this effect disappeared from the second month. The final outcome measures at 6 months were similar to those measured at the beginning of the study. Finch et al. reported on the use
3.5 Efficacy of IDET and PIRFT for the Treatment of Discogenic Low Back Pain
of a flexible radiofrequency electrode (discTRODE, Valleylab, Boulder, Colorado, USA) in a prospective case-control study to determine the efficacy of radiofrequency heating of painful annular tears [29]. Thirtyone patients underwent the procedure. A further 15 patients were unable to obtain funding for the procedure and served as the “control” group. Pain and disability decreased significantly over 12 months in the radiofrequency group, but remained unchanged in the untreated “control” subjects.
PIRFT vs. IDET Karpural et al. carried out a small non-randomized comparison of IDET with intradiscal radio-frequency ablation (RFA) [30]. The authors reported the 12 month outcome for each cohort (21 patients in each group). For the IDET group, the mean VAS dropped from 7.9 to 1.4 compared to 6.6 to 4.4 for the RFA group. Larger improvements in the pain disability index were noted in the IDET group.
Conclusions Initial reports from the originators of IDET were positive [1, 5, 6]. Further retrospective and prospective studies carried out at beta sites were much less impressive. Two RCTs addressing the effectiveness of IDET provided inconsistent evidence [16, 17]. One RCT demonstrated a positive effect on pain severity only [16], whilst the other study demonstrated no substantial benefit from the procedure [17]. Results from RCTs show that PIRFT is not effective in the treatment of discogenic LBP [27, 28]. The available evidence does not support the continued use of IDET or PIRFT for the treatment of discogenic LBP. These procedures have been associated with potentially serious side effects. Despite this, more than 75,000 IDET procedures have been performed in the United States alone since 1998 [31]. One can only assume that the minimally invasive nature of this intervention encourages clinicians to have a low threshold to offer such treatment to patients, even though such treatment is ineffective in the majority of cases. For ethical, clinical and legal reasons, this behaviour
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appears inappropriate. Clinicians treating patients with LBP should refrain from using new technologies based on promising results derived from case reports or nonrandomized trials.
References 1. Saal JS, Saal JA (2000) Management of chronic discogenic low back pain with a thermal intradiscal catheter: a preliminary report. Spine 25:382–388 2. Derby R, Eek B, Chen Y et al (2000) Intradiscal electrothermal annuloplasty (IDET): a novel approach for treating chronic discogenic back pain. Neuromodulation 3:82–88 3. Gerszten PC, Welch WC, McGrath PM et al (2002) A prospective outcomes study of patients undergoing intradiscal electrothermy (IDET) for chronic low back pain. Pain Phys 5:360–364 4. Lutz C, Lutz GE, Cooke PM (2003) Treatment of chronic lumbar diskogenic pain with intradiskal electrothermal therapy: a prospective outcome study. Arch Phys Med and Rehab 84:23–28 5. Saal JA, Saal JS (2000) Intradiscal electrothermal treatment for chronic discogenic low back pain. A prospective outcome study with a minimum 1-year follow-up. Spine 25:2622–2627 6. Saal JA, Saal JS (2002) Intradiscal electrothermal treatment for chronic discogenic low back pain. A prospective outcome study with a minimum 2-year follow-up. Spine 27: 966–973 7. Park SY, Mood SH, Park MS et al (2005) Intradiscal electrothermal treatment for chronic lower back pain patients with internal disc disruption. Yonsei Med J 46:539–545 8. Spruit M, Jacobs WCH (2002) Pain and function after intradiscal electrothermal treatment (IDET) for symptomatic lumbar disc degeneration. Eur Spine J 11:589–593 9. Cohen SP, Larkin T, Abdi S (2003) Risk factors for failure and complications of intradiscal electrothermal therapy: a pilot study. Spine 28:1142–1147 10. Lee MS, Cooper G, Lutz GE et al (2003) Intradiscal electrothermal therapy (IDET) for treatment of chronic lumbar discogenic pain: a minimum 2-year clinical outcome study. Pain Phys 6:443–448 11. Davis TT, Delamarter RB, Sra P et al (2004) The IDET procedure for chronic discogenic low back pain. Spine 29: 752–756 12. Freedman BA, Cohen SP, Kuklo TR et al (2003) Intradiscal electrothermal therapy (IDET) for chronic low back pain in active-duty soldiers: 2-year follow-up. Spine J 3:502–509 13. Webster BS, Verma S, Pransky GS (2004) Outcomes of workers’ compensation claimants with low back pain undergoing intradiscal electrothermal therapy. Spine 29:435–441 14. Karasek M, Bogduk N (2000) Twelve-month follow-up of a controlled trial of intradiscal thermal anuloplasty for back pain due to internal disruption. Spine 25:2601–2607 15. Bogduk N, Karasek M (2002) Two-year follow-up of a controlled trial of intradiscal electrothermal anuloplasty for chronic low back pain resulting from internal disc disruption. Spine J 2:343–350
100 16. Pauza KJ, Howell S, Dreyfuss P et al (2004) A randomised, placebo-controlled trial of intradiscal electrothermal therapy for the treatment of discogenic low back pain. Spine J 4:27–35 17. Freeman BJC, Fraser RD, Cain CMJ et al (2005) A randomised double blind controlled trial: intra-discal electrothermal therapy versus placebo for the treatment of chronic discogenic low back pain. Spine 30:2369–2377 18. Urrutia G, Kovacs F, Nishishinya MB et al (2007) Percutaneous thermocoagulation intradiscal techniques for discogenic low back pain. Spine 32:1146–1154 19. Eckel TS, Ortiz AO (2002) Intradiscal electrothermal therapy in the treatment of discogenic low back pain. Tech Vasc Interv Radiol 5:217–222 20. Orr RD, Thomas S (2005) Intradural migration of broken IDET catheter causing a radiculopathy. J Spinal Disord Techn 18:185–187 21. Cohen SP, Larkin T, Polly DW Jr (2002) A giant herniated disc following intradiscal electrothermal therapy. J Spinal Disord Tech 15:537–541 22. Ackerman WE III (2002) Cauda equina syndrome after intradiscal electrothermal therapy. Reg Anaesth Pain Med 27:622 23. Hsia AW, Isaac K, Katz JS (2000) Cauda equina syndrome from intradiscal electrothermal therapy. Neurology 55:320 24. Wetzel FT (2001) Cauda equina syndrome from intradiscal electrothermal therapy. Neurology 56:1607
B. J. C. Freeman 25. Djurasovic M, Glassman SD, Dimar JR et al (2002) Vertebral osteonecrosis associated with the use of intradiscal electrothermal therapy. A case report. Spine 27: E325–E328 26. Scholl BM, Theiss SM, Lopez-Ben R et al (2003) Vertebral osteonecrosis related to intradiscal electrothermal therapy: a case report. Spine 28:E161–E164 27. Barendse GAM, Van den berg SGM, Kessels AHF et al (2001) Randomised controlled trial of percutaneous intradiscal radio-frequency thermo-coagulation for chronic discogenic back pain. Lack of effect from a 90-second 70°C lesion. Spine 26:287–292 28. Ercelen O, Bulutcu E, Oktenoglu T et al (2003) Radiofrequency lesioning using two different time modalities for the treatment of lumbar discogenic low back pain: a randomized trial. Spine 28:1922–1927 29. Finch PM, Price LM, Drummond PD (2005) Radiofrequency heating of painful annular disruptions; one year outcomes. J Spinal Disord Tech 18:6–13 30. Kapural L, Hayek S, Malak O et al (2005) Intradiscal thermal annuloplasty versus intradiscal radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of discogenic pain: a prospective matched control trial. Pain Med 6:425–431 31. Smith and Nephew. IDET: For physicians: about the procedure. Available at http://www.idetprocedure.com/2000_professional/2100_about.html Accessed 23 July 2009. 32. Freeman BJC (2006) IDET: a critical appraisal of the evidence. Eur Spine J 15(Suppl.3):S448–S457
Lumbar Orthoses to Prevent and Treat Low-Back Pain
3.6
Michel Benoist and Thibaut Lenoir
Introduction Orthotic devices with various concepts and designs have been used since the Middle Ages to correct deformities and keep the spine straight. Various materials have been used over the years for orthotic fabrication. In the last century, thermoplastic composites replaced leather and plaster of Paris. Numerous types of lumbar supports have been developed worldwide for the treatment of spinal disorders [2, 7, 8]. This book is devoted to nonrigid stabilization systems, the goals of which are (1) to stabilize the motion segment by restricting but not suppressing motion; (2) to protect the adjacent level and create the best conditions for healing and hopefully regenerating the discal tissue; and (3) by so doing to obtain pain relief by lowering the nociceptive physical and mechanical input. The biomechanical goals of lumbar orthoses are, as suggested many years ago by Nachemson [21], to correct deformity, limit spinal motion, stabilize part of the spine, and reduce the loads on the trunk structures. Lumbar supports and nonrigid stabilization operative techniques have more or less similar mechanical goals. In a sense, lumbar orthoses could be considered as “external nonrigid stabilization systems.” Lumbar supports are used as part of the conservative treatment before surgery. In this chapter, we will first summarize the mechanical effectiveness of lumbar orthoses, taking into account the kinematics of the lumbar spine, and second, their
M. Benoist (*) University of Paris VII, Hôpital Beaujon, 100 Bd. du Gl. Leclerc, 92110 Clichy, France e-mail:
[email protected] clinical effectiveness in preventing and treating nonspecific low-back pain.
Kinematics The functional unit of the motion segment consists of two vertebrae and their intervening soft tissues. The unit is divided into two portions: the anterior portion consisting of the vertebral bodies separated by the disk and surrounded by the longitudinal ligaments and the posterior portion formed by the arch, facets, transverse and spinous process, and various ligaments. The functional units (FSU) do not move independently, and motion of the lumbar spine implies the combined action of several FSU. Each FSU has 6° of freedom: rotation about and translation along a transverse, a sagittal, and a longitudinal axis [35]. Radiographic measurements in vivo have shown that the range of motion of individual motion segments is small. Values of segmental motion documented by White and Panjabi [23, 35] show a cephalocaudal increase of motion in flexion-extension, ranging from approximately 4° in the upper thoracic region to 12° at the thoraco-lumbar level and to about 20° at the lumbo-sacral level. The functional range of motion varies among individuals and decreases with age. Lumbar motion is maximum in the sagittal flexion-extension plane. The first 50–60° of trunk flexion comes from the lumbar spine. Forward tilting of the pelvis provides the additional 20–30° [6]. Schematically, there is more range of motion in flexion than in axial rotation, the latter being limited by the facet joints [14]. Functional trunk movements involve not only the combined motion of different parts of the spine but also pelvic motion, which increases the functional range of the trunk.
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Rationale for Orthoses in “Degenerative Disk Disease” Two clinical syndromes are associated with degenerative conditions. The first is primary radicular pain with usually some component of low-back pain. The second is pure primary low-back pain with no radicular pain caused by nerve-root irritation. In the case of radicular pain caused, for example, by a discal herniation, the nerve root is the nociceptive receptor responsible for transmitting the pain message. In the case of pure LBP, the nerve fibers located in the disks, the facets, or other innervated structures of the functional spinal unit relevant to pain sensation comprise the receptor unit. The nerve terminals are sensitized by inflammatory and signaling substances found in degenerate, painful disks such as neuropeptides and various inflammatory cytokines [4]. Diminution of the disk height, as well as tears and clefts that are the mechanical hallmarks of degeneration, leads to abnormal motions and loading, causing physical stimulation of the sensitized nerve endings. The fact that mechanical stimulation can generate pain is supported by the common observation that low-back pain is strongly influenced by posture and movements of the patient. In clinical practice, most chronic LBP patients have no obvious radiologic signs of instability. It is possible, as stated by Kirkaldy Willis and Farfan [11], that very subtle displacements and lack of smoothness in the normal range of motion may cause pain where sensitized nerve terminals are gently stimulated. The rationale for orthosis is to avoid and restrict painful movements and to stabilize and immobilize the sensitized spinal unit in the hope of healing the inflamed discal tissues. Limiting the mechanical constraints is therefore a logical objective. It remains to be seen whether the mechanical effectiveness of orthoses is able to reach this objective and whether they are able to prevent and treat low-back pain in clinical practice.
Mechanical Effectiveness of Lumbar Orthoses In order to diminish or suppress mechanical stimulation of the innervated, sensitized structures of the lumbar spine, bracing can be effective in two principal ways: immobilization or restriction of lumbo-sacral range of motion and reduction of back muscle force. The
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immobilizing efficacy can be related to restriction of the intersegmental motion and of gross body motion. All of the supports tested by Fidler and Plasmans [7] in a cohort of healthy volunteers reduced the segmental angular movements evaluated on X-ray films in maximum flexion extension. An approximate 40° reduction in sagittal angular motion amplitude was observed. There were considerable variations among individuals. Effectiveness in reducing movements at each level varied according to the support used. For example, canvas corsets reduced the mean angular movement to two-thirds of normal at each level. Raney and baycast jackets reduced the values to one-third of normal in the middle of the lumbar spine. Nachemson et al. [20, 21] assumed that gross motion restriction is more important than reduction in the intersegmental motion. When the upper spine is in flexion, extension, or lateral bending, heavy loads are applied to the trunk. Any orthoses limiting upper body gross motion are expected to be effective. Numerous studies of varying methological quality have attempted to determine whether the use of a support reduces gross body motion, obstructs extreme movements, and improves the body posture through a reminder function due to a tactil feedback. Most studies of the literature have found a significant restriction of gross body motion of varying importance according to the support used [13]. It has also been shown that to immobilize the lumbo-sacral junction thoroughly, it is imperative to include at least one thigh in the lumbar support [22]. Similarly, lumbo-sacral rotation needs thigh inclusion in order to be effectively decreased [14]. A high-quality systematic review and metaanalysis of studies on the putative mechanisms of action was carried out by Van Poppel et al. [31]. In spite of conflicting results, these authors were able to draw conclusions from the results of the meta-analysis. The literature search identified 33 controlled studies. The criteria used by the authors for the methodologic assessment were in keeping with the usual checklists used to assess the quality of randomized controlled trials [18]. Thirteen of the selected studies focused on trunk motion. Most investigators reported on maximal range of motion, others on angular movement of spinal disks, or range of motion during specified tasks. In all the studies a design was used in which the same subjects were tested with and without lumbar orthoses. Meta-analysis of these studies provided evidence that lumbar orthoses restrict trunk motion. A statistically significant overall
3.6 Lumbar Orthoses to Prevent and Treat Low-Back Pain
effect was found in flexion-extension and lateral bending. However, this effect was not significant on rotation. The results were statistically homogenous for flexion-extension, but heterogeneous for lateral bending and rotation. This heterogeneity, according to subsequent analysis performed by the authors, was related to the type of lumbar support and outcome measure. Another mechanism for orthoses to decrease the risk of low-back pain relates to a reduction of back muscle force. This could theoretically be obtained by an increase of abdominal pressure without a concomitant augmentation of abdominal muscle activity. The raised abdominal pressure tends to extend and elongate the spine. By doing so, the lumbar lordosis is straightened and the force required in extensor musculature is reduced, thus relieving the compressive loads off the spine [3]. Several studies have investigated the effects of lumbar orthoses on intraabdominal pressure and muscular activity by electromyogram of the paraspinous and abdominal musculature. Most of these studies report contradictory or conflicting results. For example, Walter and Morris [34] studying the electrical activity of muscles of the trunk when wearing spinal supports found a decrease of abdominal muscle activity, but an increase of paraspinous muscle activity during ambulation. In contrast, Morris and Lucas [19], as well as Nachemson [20], have shown that lumbar supports worn during lifting do not affect the activity of the erector spinae. The same conflicting results are observed in the measurements of intraabdominal pressure. The most precise and extensive information comes from the systematic review provided by Van Poppel et al. [31], as mentioned above. Twelve studies reporting on electromyogram measurements and 11 studies on intraabdominal pressure-measures were selected. In most electromyographic studies, measurements of IAP were not performed simultaneously. Reports of the reviewed studies yielded inconsistent and conflicting results. Separate meta-analyses for studies on electromyogram of back muscles and on IAP were performed. Only three studies on electromyogram and seven on IAP could be included in the meta-analysis. No statistically overall effect of lumbar support was observed on electromyogram or on IAP. The overall conclusion of the authors was that there was no evidence in the literature that lumbar orthoses influence back muscle EMG and IAP. Previous reviews of the literature [2, 17, 25] had concluded that because of the inconsistent results of the available studies, no
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conclusive statement could be made. The conclusions of Van Poppel’s systematic review are supported by a study by Szpalski et al. [28]. The influence of a lumbar belt was tested on an isoinertial dynamometric device on 20 healthy volunteers with and without the lumbar brace. The conclusion of the study was that orthoses had an effect on the amplitude of motion, but all other characteristics of trunk motion, static or dynamic, remained unaltered.
Clinical Effectiveness of Lumbar Orthoses Currently, lumbar supports are provided as treatment to patients with LBP and sciatica, or for prevention, either primary with the aim of preventing onset of LBP, or secondary with the aim of preventing recurrent episodes. There are numerous studies investigating the clinical effectiveness of lumbar supports. Unfortunately, most of these studies are of poor methodologic quality owing to inadequate randomization, absence of assessment of cointerventions, or of compliance. Moreover, these studies often yielded contradictory results. In a state of the art review published in 1987, Nachemson [20] stated that slightly more than 50% of the patients estimated that orthotic devices helped them. Since then a few reviews have summarized the published studies and reached the conclusion that effectiveness of orthoses was controversial [5, 10, 24, 29]. A more recent systematic review [9] is particularly important as it evaluates the literature using the methodology recommended by the Cochrane Collaboration Review Group [32]. We will briefly analyze the results of this high-quality review which provides, in these authors’ opinion, the best and most useful information. Seven studies on prevention (five RCTs and two CCTs) and six studies on treatment (six RCTs) were identified out of 153 relevant articles. Because of the heterogeneity in study populations, interventions and in outcomes, meta-analysis could not be performed. The results were evaluated qualitatively, using the rating system based on four levels of evidence depending on the design, the quality, and outcome of the studies [32]. This system is summarized as follows: Level A: Strong evidence: findings concur in several high-quality RCTs.
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Level B: Moderate evidence: findings concur in one high-quality RCT and one or more RCTs of low quality, or findings concur in several studies of low quality. Level C: Limited evidence: based on findings of one RCT (of high or low quality), or generally consistent findings in CCTs; or contradictory findings in several studies. Level D: No evidence: no RCT or other types of studies of satisfactory scientific quality.
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The conclusions of Jellema’s review were quite similar to those of a previous systematic review by Koes and Van Den Hoogen [12] who stated that effectiveness of orthoses was controversial, and that it remained unclear whether they were better than other interventions. Guidelines for the management of low-back pain are based on the results of these studies. Wearing a support was not recommended for prevention or for treatment of nonspecific low-back pain by the European Guidelines Committee of the Cost B13 Project, 2006.
Results of the data analysis, using this rating system and concerning the effect of lumbar orthosis on prevention, are as follows:
Comparison of Different Types 1. There is moderate evidence (Level B) that lumbar of Lumbar Orthoses orthoses compared with no orthoses do not prevent LBP. 2. There is also moderate evidence (Level B) that lumbar supports are not more effective than other types of intervention. 3. There is limited evidence that lumbar support added to another type of intervention such as back school is not more effective than back school alone. However, two reviews [30, 33] have investigated the effects of lumbar orthoses in secondary prevention. The authors have analyzed subgroups of workers with a history of LBP. Results indicate that this category of workers may be at a reduced risk for recurrent episodes if wearing a support. Further studies are needed to confirm this possibility. Is there evidence in the literature to support the use of orthoses for the treatment of low-back pain? As mentioned above, six trials for treatment were selected in Jellema’s study [9]. All were RCTs (one high-quality and five low-quality). Only one study [16] included patients with chronic LBP, the other studies included patients with unspecified duration of complaints or with varying duration of pain (acute, subacute, and chronic). The conclusions of the systematic review are as follows: 1. There is limited evidence (Level C) that lumbar supports provide pain relief in patients with LBP, when compared with patients without support. 2. There is moderate evidence (Level B) that lumbar orthoses are not more effective than other types of treatment. 3. There is conflicting evidence as to whether patients wearing a support go back to work more rapidly than those without a support.
Numerous types of lumbar supports are now available [27]. The type of orthosis should be prescribed individually according to the pathology, the posture, and the physical characteristics of any given patient. The material used and the height and rigidity of the support depend on the level of control needed and, more specifically, on the planes of motion to be restricted. For example, a cloth lumbosacral orthosis SLO will reduce the normal flexion-extension by 30%, the lateral flexion by 10%, and the rotation by 0%. A rigid plastic SLO will reduce the flexion-extension by 60%, the lateral flexion by 40%, and the rotation by 20%. A rigid TSLO will reduce the flexion-extension by 60%, the lateral flexion by 50%, and the rotation by 30%. As already mentioned, a rigid TSLO including one thigh is necessary to immobilize the lumbar spine, including the rotation [21, 26]. Posture should also be considered. A delordosing brace for low-back pain and sciatica is recommended by some authors [15, 36]. According to them, the flexed posture tightens the posterior longitudinal ligament, thereby diminishing posterior disk bulge. The important issue is whether some types of lumbar supports are more clinically effective in the prevention or treatment of nonspecific low-back pain. As emphasized by Jellema et al. [9], no scientific conclusion can be formulated from the literature. Many studies do not describe the type of support they have used, as well as the compliance. Therefore, the specific clinical effects of the various types of braces remain unclear. There is, however, one high-quality RCT [33] which compared two different types of support, one with a rigid stay in the back, and one without. Patients with the rigid stay had a more global improvement on a subjective index.
3.6 Lumbar Orthoses to Prevent and Treat Low-Back Pain
Conclusions The authors believe that there is no hard scientific evidence of the effectiveness of lumbar supports for prevention and for treatment of nonspecific low-back pain. However, in clinical practice there is a subgroup of patients who think that orthotic devices help them [20]. As the use of orthoses seems to be questionable on biomechanical grounds, it may be that other effects such as massage, heat, antivibratory, or placebo explain the clinical benefit observed in some patients. As pointed out by Balagué [1], “the practice of medicine remains an art with a scientific background.” Although evidence-based guidelines must be kept in mind, other clinical, psychological, cultural, or societal factors need to be considered at the individual level in the conservative treatment of nonspecific LBP. This remark can be applied to the use of orthoses as a treatment of low-back pain.
References 1. Balagué F, Dudler J (2007) Conservative treatment for lowback pain. XIV Brussels International Symposium, November 16 and 17. Brussels, Belgium 2. Barron BA, Feurstein M (1991) Industrial back belts and low-back pain: mechanisms and outcomes. J Occup Rehab 4:125–139 3. Bartelink DL (1957) The role of the abdominal pressure in relieving the pressure on the lumbar intervertebral discs. J Bone Joint Surg 39:718–725 4. Benoist M, Boulu P (2004) Disc degeneration and low-back pain. In: Gunzburg R, Szpalski M, Anderson GBJ (eds) Degenerative disc disease. Lippincott Williams and Willkins, Philadelphia, pp 111–121 5. Dillingham TR (1998) Lumbar supports for prevention of low-back pain in the work place. JAMA 279:1826–1828 6. Farfan HF (1975) Muscular mechanism of the lumbar spine and the position of power and efficiency. Orthop Clin North Am 6:135–146 7. Fidler MW, Plasmans CMT (1983) The effect of four types of support on the segmental mobility of the lombosacral spine. J bone Joint Surg 65:943–947 8. Hodgson EA (1996) Occupational back belt use: a literature review. Am Assoc Occup Health Nurs 44:438–443 9. Jellema P, Van Tulder MW, Van Poppel MNM et al (2001) Lumbar supports for prevention and treatment of low-back pain. A systematic review within the framework of the Cochrane Back Review Group. Spine 26:377–386 10. Karas BE, Conrad KM (1996) Back injury prevention interventions in the work place. Am Assoc Occup Health Nurs 44:189–196
105 11. Kirkaldy-Willis WH, Farfan HF (1982) Instability of the lumbar spine. Clin Orthop 165:110–123 12. Koes BW, Van den Hoogen HMM (1994) Efficacy of bed rest and orthoses for low-back pain. Eur J Phys Med Rehabil 4:86–93 13. Lanz SA, Schultz AB (1986) Lumbar spine orthoses wearing: restriction of gross body motion. Spine 11:830–842 14. Lumsden RM, Morris JM (1960) An in vivo study of axial rotation and immobilization at the lumbosacral joint. J Bone Joint Surg 50:1591–1602 15. MacNab I (1981) Backache. Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore/ London, p 154 16. Million R, Nilsen KH, Jayson MIV et al (1981) Evaluation of low-back pain and assessment of lumbar corsets with and without back supports. Ann Rheum Dis 40:449–454 17. Minor SD (1996) Use of back belts in occupational settings. Phys Ther 76:403–408 18. Moher D, Jadad AR, Nichol G et al (1995) Assessing the quality of randomized controlled trials: an annoted bibliography of scales and checklists. Control Clin Trials 16:63–75 19. Morris JM, Lucas BD (1964) Biomechanics of spinal bracing. Ariz Med 21:170–176 20. Nachemson A (1987) Orthotic treatment for injuries and diseases of the vertebral column. Phys Med Rehab State Art Rev 1:11–24 21. Nachemson A, Schultz A, Anderson GBJ (1983) Mechanical effectiveness studies of lumbar spine orthoses. Scand J Rehab Med 9(Suppl):139–149 22. Norton PL, Brown T (1957) The immobilizing efficiency of back braces. J Bone Joint Surg 39:111–138 23. Panjabi MM, White A, Brand RA (1974) A note in defining body parts configurations. J Biomech 7:305 24. Penrose KW, Chook K, Stump JL (1991) Acute and chronic effects of pneumatic lumbar support on muscular strength, flexibility and functional impairment. Sports Train Med Rehabil 2:121–129 25. Perkins MS, Bloswick DS (1995) The use of back belts to increase intraabdominal pressure as a means of preventing low-back injuries. A survey of the literature. Int J Occup Environ Health 1:326–335 26. Petersen BP, Panjabi MM, White AA (1999) A user’s guide to lumbar orthoses: theoretical, scientific, and clinical rationale. In: Szpalski M, Gunzburg R, Pope MH (eds) Lumbar segmental instability. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, Philadelphia 27. Pope MH, Magnusson M, Sandler AJ et al (1997) Orthoses for treatment of cervical and low-back disorders. In: Frymoyer JW (ed) The adult spine: principles and practice, 2nd edn. Lippincott-Raven, Philadelphia 28. Szpalski M, Gunzburg R, Michel F, Hayez JP (1997) Influence of lumbar braces, isometric or dynamic characteristics of trunk function. Presented at International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine annual meeting. June 2–6, Singapore 29. Van Poppel MNM, Koes BW, Smid T et al (1997) A systematic review of controlled clinical trials on the prevention of back pain in industry. Occup Environ Med 54:841–847 30. Van Poppel MNM, Koes BW, Van der Ploeg T et al (1998) Lumbar supports and education for the prevention of lowback pain in industry: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA 279:1789–1794
106 31. Van Poppel MNM, de Looze MP, Koes BM et al (2000) Mechanisms of action of lumbar supports. A systematic review. Spine 25:2103–2113 32. VanTulder MW, Assendelft WJJ, Koes BW et al (1997) Editorial board of the cochrane collaboration back review group for spinal disorders. Spine 22:2323–2330 33. Walsh NE, Schwartz RK (1990) The influence of prophylactic orthoses on abdominal strength and low-back injury in the workplace. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 69:245–250
M. Benoist and T. Lenoir 34. Walters RL, Morris JM (1970) Effect of spinal supports on the electrical activity of muscles of the trunk. J Bone Joint Surg 52:51–59 35. White AA, Panjabi MM (1990) Clinical biomechanics of the spine, 2nd edn. J.B.Lippincott, Philadelphia 36. Wilner S (1985) Effect of a rigid brace on back pain. Acta Orthop Scand 56:40–42
Part Surgical Treatment: Fusion
IV
Indication for Lumbar Spinal Fusion
4.1
Max Aebi
Introduction Recent studies have demonstrated a steady increase in the number of lumbar fusions from 1992 to 2003 when considering the US average rate of discharges per thousand Medicare enrolled, equaling more than 4 times the number of fusions within this time period. At the same time, the number of discectomies and lumbar laminectomies has not increased accordingly, when compared with earlier times. [1]. Also, the number of nonlumbar fusions has doubled in this time, whereas that of the nonlumbar discectomy and laminectomy surgery has stayed almost the same during this time. As demonstrated in the comparative magnitude of variability of orthopedic procedures in the Dartmouth small area analysis, lumbar fusions have purely defined indications compared to, for instance, hip fracture treatment or hip replacement [2]. One of the major areas of indication for lumbar fusions is the degenerated disk disease as well as the postdiscectomy syndrome. If this pathology is compared to low back pain (LBP) in pediatric spondylolisthesis as well as high slip spondylolisthesis treated by lumbar fusion, it is only the pediatric spondylolisthesis and the high slip spondylolisthesis, which are l till after 5 years significantly more pain-free than patients who had surgery for degenerative disease and post discectomy syndrome. This indicates that there are
M. Aebi Center for Orthopaedic Research, University of Bern, Stauffenbachstrasse 78, 3014, Bern, Switzerland e-mail:
[email protected] pathomorphologies, which may also profit in a longterm follow-up from lumbar fusion, whereas other surgical indications, specifically for LBP in degenerated disk disease or in postdiscectomy syndromes, the profit of surgery is less obvious [3]. Most of randomized prospective trials suggest that any advantage of surgery over nonsurgical care is modest [4], although recent studies report a relevant long-term profit from a surgical treatment in chronic LBP in more than 70% [5]. In addition, there is pretty good evidence that the fusion technique does not alter the outcome in patients with chronic LBP [6]; however, it increases the complication rate with increasing technical sophistication of the procedure [7]. This also demonstrates that LBP is not a diagnosis but a very unspecific symptom for which there is no surgical treatment except when it is combined with precise diagnostic entities with a history, which correlates with a distinct pathomorphology, clinical picture, and often a conclusive invasive pain evaluation. There is a whole list of these disorders which go along with LBP, and each of these pathologies may have a specific outcome when treated by surgery (Table 4.1.1). Today’s debate about surgery in LBP is mostly centered on the axial back pain with disk degeneration or internal disk disruption, a frequent radiological entity, but not regularly combined with LBP. A surgical indication for fusion in LBP necessitates a meticulous history and clinical evaluation combined with imaging, which should correlate clearly with the clinical picture. In this overview we will neither include LBP in the context of osteoporosis and osteoporotic compression fractures, nor will we refer to back pain in the context of spinals tumors and trauma.
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110 Table 4.1.1 Pathomorphological correlates to low back pain (LBP) other than unspecific LBP Lumbar disk herniation Internal disk rupture, black disk (axial back pain) Facet joint arthritis, facet joint syndrome Spondylolysis and spondylolistheis (dysplastic) Degenerative spondylolisthesis True instability (degenerative, posttraumatic) Adjacent segment syndrome Postdiscectomy syndrome Transitional lumbosacral anomaly Spinal stenosis Degenerative scoliosis
Clinical Evaluation The corner stone of clinical evaluation is the patient history, specifically the pain history. All the elements and sources of possible pain need to be addressed with the patient to design a clear picture of the underlying pathology. A clinical assessment of the spine (balance!) and a precise neurological assessment are important, but often not conclusive. Only after an extensive history and clinical examination the choice of imaging of the spine is made. Although we have sophisticated imaging technology available, like MRI, CT-scan, or a combination of CT-myelogram, a conventional X-ray in standing position, ap, lateral (usually a whole spine image) and oblique is helpful to understand the alignment and “the architecture” of the lumbar spine, and when combined with flexion-extension films in supine position, the imaging may give some impression about the stability of the motion segments [8, 9]. This noninvasive imaging technology may be expanded by facet blocks, discograms, extraforaminal root blocks, and epidural blocks to clarify the pain source. Each of these examinations is isolated per se not a conclusive procedure [10, 11]; however, in combination with the history, the clinical findings, and the imaging, it may be a further mosaic stone in the whole picture in justifying a surgical or nonsurgical indication.
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Spinal Disorders Which Go Along with Low Back Pain and Which May Constitute an Indication for Fusion Surgery Dysplastic Spondylolisthesis and Spondylolysis Unstable spondylolysis as well as spondylolisthesis is a frequent diagnosis and it occurs in more than 5% of the Caucasians. In the Inuit population the incidence is more than 20%. Many of these findings are irrelevant when not combined with a distinct clinical picture. However, specifically in adolescents and young adults, a spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis even of low grade may be an indication for lumbar fusion of all the nonsurgical treatments are ineffective. It is recommended not to treat these patients nonsurgically for many years when the patient has really invalidating pain. In such a case patients are conditioned to their pain. The experience shows, also not supported by evidence-based studies, that patients operated for spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis in younger years, meaning before their thirties, generally do very well and rarely return for further surgery [12]. The lumbar fusion for spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis L5/S1 can be a posterior surgery with fusion alone or combined with posterior instrumentation (pedicle screws) or a combination of posterior fixation with an interbody fusion, be it a PLIF or a TLIF. An ALIF may be equally as successful and goes along with a significantly smaller surgical trauma due to less muscle stripping than posterior surgery. Studies from Finland and others demonstrate that the type of fusion does not necessarily go along with better outcome [13, 14]. However, the noninstrumented fusions do have a higher incidence of nonunions and loss of correction [13]. We recently have developed systematically a posterior instrumentation using the pedicle screw in the sacrum as so-called transpedicular-transdiscal-transcorporal screw from S1 into the body of L5, either in combination with a posterior pedicle screw-rod-system or as isolated sacral lumbar screws (see Chapter 4.6, p. 145). The isolated screws may be helpful in younger patients as a minimally invasive instrumented posterior fusion of L5/S1. A number of potential complications are, how ever, to be considered when this surgical technique is
4.1 Indication for Lumbar Spinal Fusion
chosen. A recent study of a Swedish group came to the conclusion that the outcome of posterior lumbar interbody fusion vs. posterolateral fusion in adult isthmic spondylolisthesis was almost identical in the two groups at a 2-years follow-up [15]. High-grade spondylolisthesis (grade III–V) are only safely treated with a circumferential fusion (anterior column support) and have a high incidence of implant failure when operated by a posterior instrumentation only [16–19].
Degenerative Spondylolisthesis This is a frequent problem in middle-aged and elderly patients, mostly going along with spinal stenosis and finally necessitating a decompression. Whether the fusion is indicated or whether the decompression alone is sufficient is an ongoing debate [20–22]. The 1997 Volvo Award winning paper in clinical category by Fishgrund et al. demonstrated almost identical results in the instrumented and noninstrumented fusions for degenerative spondylolisthesis. However, there was a significant difference in terms of successful arthrodesis in so far that instrumented fusion reached 83% of successful fusion, whereas noninstrumented fusion reached only 45% [23]. The pseudarthrosis rate was
a
Fig. 4.1.1 Degenerative instability: (a) Functional lateral X-ray in flexion (supine), (b) Instrumented posterior and anterior interbody fusion with a peek cage
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18% for instrumented fusion and 55% for uninstrumented fusion. However, in a reassessment of the same patients after 5 years, it seemed that the fused patients did definitively better than those with a persistent nonunion [24]. Similar figures could be identified in the Swedish Lumbar Spine Study [25–27].
True Instability (Posttraumatic, Degenerative) The posttraumatic instability is the best understood form of lumbar instability and usually warrants surgical treatment since these patients may go along with significant LBP. However, a degenerative instability may not necessarily go along with LBP, although the pathological movement may be quite significant [28, 29]. The degenerative process with the destruction of the disk may lead to an unstable segment, which can be recognized in the functional X-rays, specifically in supine position with flexion-extension and usually by air inclusion in the disk [8, 9, 30] (Fig. 4.1.1). Degenerative instability may, however, be difficult to prove other than with a specific history and indirect imaging signs. It may be more appropriate, however, to talk about “dysmobility” in the degenerative lumbar spine than about
b
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instability. Pope et al. defined segmental instability as a loss of stiffness of a motion segment, which causes pain and has the potential to result in progressive deformity and will finally place neurogenic structures at risk [29] (Fig. 4.1.2). If the morphologically demonstrated instability goes along with LBP, as it may be proven by facet joint infiltration and immobilization, this degenerative instability is a surgical indication. Unfortunately, there
are no specific studies available with prospective analysis of the development of instability. To some degree the de novo occurring degenerative scoliosis may be interpreted as a degenerative instability, which is expressed in a chronic global instability of a spinal area as well as measurable segmental instabilities, either in the sagittal as well as in the frontal plain or as a combination as a three-dimensional instability.
a
L2
b
L2 Fig. 4.1.2 Degenerated disk disease with a more “global instability” which leads to a degenerative scoliosis: (a) female patient with 57 years with narrowed disk space L2–3; (b) two years later with now severe damage of the disk L2–3 as well as L3–4 and progressive pain; (c) postoperative image with posterior instrumented fusion combined with TLIF- cages at L2–3 and L3–4 and good sagittal as well as frontal alignment
2 yrs later……
4.1 Indication for Lumbar Spinal Fusion
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Spinal Stenosis
Fig. 4.1.2 (continued)
Adult Degenerative Scoliosis The most complex lumbar spinal disorder that goes along with LBP is the degenerative scoliosis, which may also be called a de novo scoliosis. This latter, however, represents only one form of degenerative scoliosis. It seems that this form of scoliosis is developing on the ground of an asymmetrical degeneration of one or more disks with secondary translation and rotational dislocation within one or several motion segments over time. Asymmetric loading may be the reason for asymmetric degeneration and a consecutive deformity. There are other forms of degenerative scoliosis, like a regular secondary degenerated lumbar counter- curve to the classical idiopathic thoracic curve. Or a primarily idiopathic lumbar scoliosis can become secondarily degenerated and also become symptomatic with LBP [31]. These lumbar degenerative curves may become painful with a progression of the curve and accompanying neurological deficits or symptoms, and finally be a surgical indication. There is very little prospective literature available that compares different surgical procedures, e.g., minimal invasive against maximal invasive reconstructive surgery or surgical against nonsurgical treatment, which would demonstrate the superiority of one over the other procedure [32–34].
Spinal Stenosis is classically accompanied by a claudication symptomatology. However, the claudication may also be in combination with LBP due to significant degenerated facet joints and disks and/or segmental instability [35]. Very rarely patients complain about significant back pain, which is dependent or arises with an increasing walking distance, but without having typical claudication-type of pain in the legs. Often these patients have a constitutional narrow canal with accompanying facet joint and disk arthritis. These patients may profit from a decompression. If the spinal stenosis goes along with a significant facet joint arthritis and degenerative spondylolisthesis or a secondary degenerative scoliosis and/or kyphoscoliosis, the decompression may be followed by an instrumented fusion to avoid further progression of the deformity or secondary instability. Recent RCTs demonstrated superiority of the surgical treatment over the nonsurgical therapy for lumbar spinal stenosis [33]; however, the best surgical treatment is still under debate [36, 37]. The attempts to treat these patients with a multisegmental dynamic fixation have failed so far (Fig. 4.1.3).
Adjacent Segment Problem This is an increasingly frequent problem observed in degenerative disk disease in patients who develop a degenerated segment adjacent to an operated or fused spinal segment [38]. Usually the adjacent segment disease can be associated with instability, spinal stenosis, and significant facet joint arthritis and impingement. The adjacent segment disease is a heavily disputed topic in today’s spine surgery and there is only little evidence that this disorder is only related to spinal fusion as it can be equally seen in patients with rigid degenerated spinal segments, and it may be that the mechanically changed loading conditions express a genetic predisposition. It has also been discussed that an adjacent segment disease may be associated with a malalignment of the spine in the sagittal plain [11, 39–41].
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a constitutional narrow canal L2-3 status postdecompression elsewhere Extension
Flexion
b
Fig. 4.1.3 Sixty-eight-years-old male patient with a multilevel constitutional spinal stenosis with a condition after isolated decompression L2–3: (a) preoperative imaging (MRI) and postop imaging with dynamic fixation; (b) persistent severe back as well
as claudication pain, still stenosis; (c) after revision, large decompression and reversion into a stable multilevel fusion. Immediately asymptomatic
4.1 Indication for Lumbar Spinal Fusion
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Fig. 4.1.3 (continued)
*
*
*
“Pseudolysis”due to ciment enhancement Large decompression
c
Postdiscectomy Syndrome A segment that has been operated several years ago for disk degeneration and/or herniation may become painful over time due to a significant osteochondrosis of the originally operated segment with narrowing of the disk space with consequent bone-to-bone contact, subchondral oedema, later sclerosis, osteophytes, and incongruent facet joints (Fig. 4.1.4). Stabilization of such a segment may reduce the LBP significantly, since the painful segment is immobilized by the fusion. Here it is worth, however, to do some invasive pain evaluations, like discograms and facet joint infiltrations, to get a handle on etiology of the pain.
formation, and finally, foraminal stenosis (Fig. 4.1.5). The disk that is included in the transitional anomaly is usually intact. There is a wide range of variations of transitional anomalies with hemisacralization or hemilumbalization, either with or without nearthrotic joints [42–45]. Most of these lesions can be identified as painful with direct infiltration of the anomaly itself or the adjacent degenerated segment. If the pain is permanent and improves with infiltration and is persistent with proper conservative treatment, a surgical indication may be given. Surgery may consist in a resection of a unilateral large transverse process, which is in a nearthrotic relationship with the massa lateralis of S1 or in a fusion of the adjacent segment to the transitional anomaly.
Transitional Anomalies at the Lumbosacral Spine
Facet Joint Arthritis (Spondylarthritis)
Although considered by most radiologists as an accidental finding, transitional anomalies are frequent and usually lead to overmobility at the superior adjacent segment, in most cases of L4/5. This segment then shows an early degeneration with disk space narrowing, subchondral oedema and sclerosis, osteophyte
In case of significant arthritic changes of the facet joints with hypertrophy of the capsule, hypertrophied facet osteophytes, incomplete spontaneous fusion of the facet joints, and air inclusion, the patients may profit from a facet joint infiltration. If a temporary pain release can be reached, a direct fusion or screw fixation
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a
*
* * Tricalcium cylinder filling the local bone harvesting defect set by a trephine system
b Fig. 4.1.4 Postdiscectomy syndrome: (a) 62-years-old female patient who had a discectomy at L3–4 17 years ago with consecutive vanishing of the disk space; (b) fusion L3–4
4.1 Indication for Lumbar Spinal Fusion
117
a
b
Postop.
Fig. 4.1.5 Transitional anomaly: 71-years-old biologically clearly younger patient with a severe back pain history for many years with a transitional anomaly L5-S1 (with a relatively good disk) and a consecutive degenerated disk with severe
osteochondrosis L4–5: (a) preop imaging, (b) postop imaging after stand-alone interbody fusion with cage at L4–5 followed by rapid improvement of the pain situation
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of the arthritic joint may be quite helpful. The so-called “facet joint syndrome” which is radiologically difficult to identify, even with MRI, is a diagnosis which rarely goes along with long-lasting periods of pain relief after surgical treatment. Even if the facet joint infiltration may be suggestive for a facet joint syndrome, the pain relief through fusion may only be temporarily. In a recent study it has been demonstrated that cases where there is fluid in the lumbar facet joints, detected on MRI, as well as instability in flexion lumbar radiographs, in patients with L4/5 degenerative disease, pain correlates well with the morphological findings. Therefore, fluid on MRI in the facet joints should raise suspicion of lumbar instability and qualifies for fusion surgery [46]. The X-rays, respectively the MRI, of significant facet arthritis should be done supine as well as standing to demonstrate the fluid in the joint. When standing, the fluid is pressed out and the facet joints are almost locked. When the patient is supine, the joints may open and air inclusion can be demonstrated on the conventional X-rays as well as fluid in the joints. These patients often indicate typical pain in the night when turning in bed which wakes them up and pain in the morning while getting up until the facet joints have “settled” under the axial load. True facet joint arthritis, as the relevant pain source, can usually be stabilized with simple translaminar or transfacetal screws. In case of a still significantly good disk, a combination with an anterior interbody fusion through a TLIF or PLIF may be mandatory to get the patient pain-free (Fig. 4.1.6).
Axial Back Pain: Internal Disk Disruption This is the most frequent problem considered as synonym for LBP. Axial back pain in younger patients with significant recurrence rate and unresponsiveness for conservative treatment may be considered for fusion surgery or since recently for disk arthroplasty (Fig. 4.1.7). Many of these patients already have black disks or definitively changed disks in the MRI, sometimes combined with a hypodense Modic sign in the annulus. These suspicious disks may be tested with a discogram where concordant and memory pain may be proven together with a pathological discogram. Although a positive discography was not highly predictive in identifying bone fide isolated intradiscal
M. Aebi
lesions, primarily causing LBP illness, it can be considered as a good standard evaluation of the discogenic pain diagnosis as determined by provocative discography [10, 47, 48]. However, it needs to be noted that despite removal of the pain generator (disk), as diagnosed by discography, approximately half of the patients continued with significant pain and impairment. Therefore, the usefulness of discography still remains to be proved. Physical job characteristics and psychological aspects of work were more powerful than magnetic resonance imaging identified disk abnormalities in predicting the need for LBP-related medical consultation and the resultant work capacity, as demonstrated in a recent paper analyzing natural history of individuals with asymptomatic disk abnormalities in magnetic resonance imaging, to investigate predictors of LBP-related medical consultation and work incapacity [49].
Discussion The question when and whether surgery should be done in patients with so-called LBP remains controversial [3]. As there is very little strong evidence-based research in combination with anterior or posterior lumbar fusion, many of the decisions are based on narrative-based medicine, meaning experience [50–55]. However, it should be emphasized that LBP is not a diagnosis, but a symptom, and therefore, only the cause of back pain may be addressed by surgery. Lumbar fusion surgery can be subdivided in cases where 1. Surgery should be done on a relatively acute basis (combined with neurological deficit). 2. Cases where surgery should be planned without major delay in order to avoid further degeneration, progression, and/or chronification. 3. Cases where it is preferable to wait until the patient makes the indication himself for quality of life. 4. Cases where surgery should be avoided whenever possible, even when there is pathomorphology on imaging present. Also, which technique is best for which indication remains controversial and depends on a lot of variables of clinical evaluation. In recent years, it became more and more obvious that circumferential fusion in axial
4.1 Indication for Lumbar Spinal Fusion
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Extension
a
b Fig. 4.1.6 Male patient with a significant facet joint syndrome: (a) preop imaging with a repetitive improvement of the pain after facet joint injections. Black disk negative on discogram; postop imaging after translaminar screw fixation and fusion L5-S1
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a
57yrs old female b
60yrs old female:28m p.o. Fig. 4.1.7 Fifty-seven-years-old female patient with incapacitating axial back pain since several years; (a) preop imaging with severe osteochondrosis and black disk L5-S1; (b) 1 year postop after anterior stand-alone intervertebal fusion with cage: patient asymptomatic
4.1 Indication for Lumbar Spinal Fusion
LBP is generally superior to posterolateral fusion in a long-term perspective, specifically also in cost-utility evaluation of randomized controlled trials for severe, chronic LBP [5, 56]. They demonstrated that circumferential fusion is dominant over instrumented posterolateral fusion, i.e., both being significantly cheaper and significantly better in a long-term societal prospective. Results were extremely robust to comprehensive sensitivity analyses. Those findings represent a robust external validity to western specialized centers for spine surgery. Furthermore, however, it has been demonstrated that a higher proportion of fusion procedures and the introduction of new spinal implants between 1993 and 1997 did not reduce reoperation rates. It has been shown that the cumulative incidence of a second lumbar spine operation has been increased in spite of more sophisticated surgical techniques [49].
References 1. Weinstein JN (2006) United States’ trends and regional variations in lumbar spine surgery: 1992–2003. Spine 31(23): 2707–2714 2. Wenneberg JE, Weinstein JM (2000) Atlas of musculoskeletal health care. Chicago, AHA 3. Mirza SK, Deyo RA (2007) Systematic review of randomized trials comparing lumbar fusion surgery to nonoperative care for treatment of chronic back pain [Literature Review]. Spine 32(7):816–823 4. Fritzell P (2005) Fusion as treatment for chronic low back pain – existing evidence, the scientific frontier and research strategies. Eur Spine J 14(5):519–520 5. Christensen FB (2004) Lumbar spinal fusion. Outcome in relation to surgical methods, choice of implant and postoperative rehabilitation. Acta Orthop Scand Suppl 75(313):2–43 6. Fritzell P, Hägg O, Wessberg P, Nordwall A; Swedish Lumbar Spine Study Group (2004) Chronic low back pain and fusion: a comparison of three surgical techniques: a prospective multicenter randomized study from the Swedish lumbar spine study group. Spine 27(11):1131–1412 7. Fritzell P, Hägg O, Nordwall A; Swedish Lumbar Spine Study Group (2003) Complications in lumbar fusion surgery for chronic low back pain: comparison of three surgical techniques used in a prospective randomized study. A report from the Swedish Lumbar Spine Study Group. Eur Spine J 12(2):178–189 8. Leone A, Guglielmi G, Cassar-Pullicino VN, Bonomo L (2007) Lumbar intervertebral instability: a review. Radiology 245(1):62–77 9. Fritz JM, Piva SR, Childs JD (2005) Accuracy of the clinical examination to predict radiographic instability of the lumbar spine. Eur Spine J 14(8):743–750
121 10. Carragee EJ, Lincoln T, Parmar VS, Alamin T (2006) A gold standard evaluation of the “discogenic pain” diagnosis as determined by provocative discography. Spine 31(18):2115–2123 11. Willems PC, Elmans L, Anderson PG, van der Schaaf DB, de Kleuver M (2007) Provocative discography and lumbar fusion: is preoperative assessment of adjacent discs useful? Spine 32(10):1094–1099; discussion 1100 12. Ekman P, Möller H, Tullberg T, Neumann P, Hedlund R (2007) Posterior lumbar interbody fusion versus posterolateral fusion in adult isthmic spondylolisthesis. Spine 32(20):2178–2183 13. Seitsalo S, Osterman K, Hyvarinen H, Schlenzka D, Poussa M (1990) Severe spondylolisthesis in children and adolescents. A long-term review of fusion in situ. J Bone JoinSurg Br 72(2):254–265 14. Lee SH, Choi WG, Lim SR, Kang HY, Shin SW (2004) Minimally invasive anterior lumbar interbody fusion followed by percutaneous pedicle screw fixation for isthmic spondylolisthesis. Spine J 4(6):644–649 15. Ekman P, Möller H, Tycho T, Neumann P, Hedlund R (2007) Posterior lumbar interbody fusion versus posterolateral fusion in adult isthmic spondylolisthesis. Spine 32(20):2178–2183 16. Boos N, Marchesi D, Zuber K, Aebi M (1993) Treatment of severe spondylolisthesis by reduction and pedicular fixation. A 4-6-year follow-up study. Spine 18(12):1655–1661 17. Laursen M, Thomsen K, Eiskjaer SP, Hansen ES, Bunger CE (1999) Functional outcome after partial reduction and 360 degree fusion in grade III-V spondylolisthesis in adolescent and adult patients. J Spinal Disord 12(4):300–306 18. Smith JA, Deviren V, Berven S, Kleinstueck F, Bradford DS (2001) Clinical outcome of trans-sacral interbody fusion after partial reduction for high-grade L5–S1 spondylolisthesis. Spine 26(20):2227–2234 19. Fabris DA, Costantini S, Nena U (1996) Surgical treatment of severe L5–S1 spondylolisthesis in children and adolescents: results of intraoperative reduction, posterior interbody fusion, and segmental pedicle fixation. Spine 21(6):728–733 20. Sengupta DK, Herkowitz HN (2005) Degenerative spondylolisthesis: review of current trends and controversies. Spine 30(Suppl 6):S71–S81 21. Weinstein JN, Lurie JD, Tosteson TD, Hanscom B, Tosteson AN, Blood EA, Birkmeyer NJ, Hilibrand AS, Herkowitz H, Cammisa FP, Albert TJ, Emery SE, Lenke LG, Abdu WA, Longley M, Errico TJ, Hu SS (2007) Surgical versus nonsurgical treatment for lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis. N Engl J Med 356(22):2257–2270 22. McLain RF (2004) Instrumented fusion for degenerative spondylolisthesis: is it necessary? Spine 29(2):170 23. Fischgrund JS, Mackay M, Herkowitz HN, Brower R, Montgomery DM, Kurz LT (1997) 1997 Volvo Award winner in clinical studies. Degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis with spinal stenosis: a prospective, randomized study comparing decompressive laminectomy and arthrodesis with and without spinal instrumentation. Spine 22(24):2807–2812 24. Fischgrund JS (2004) The argument for instrumented decompressive posterolateral fusion for patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis and spinal stenosis. Spine 29(2): 173–174 25. Brox JI, Sörensen R, Friis A et al (2003) Randomized clinical trial of lumbar instrumented fusion and cognitive intervention and exercises in patients with chronic low back pain and disc degeneration. Spine 28:1913–1921
122 26. Hägg O, Fritzell P, Nordwall A; Swedish Lumbar Spine Study Group (2002) Characteristics of patients with chronic low back pain selected for surgery: a comparison with the general population reported from the Swedish lumbar spine study. Spine 27(11):1223–1231 27. Fritzell P, Hägg O, Jonsson D, Nordwall A; Swedish Lumbar Spine Study Group (2004) Cost-effectiveness of lumbar fusion and nonsurgical treatment for chronic low back pain in the Swedish lumbar spine study: a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial from the Swedish Lumbar Spine Study Group. Spine 29(4):421–434; discussion Z3 28. Hayes MA, Howard TC, Gruel CR, Kopta JA (1989) Roentgenographic evaluation of lumbar spine flexion-extension in asymptomatic individuals. Spine 14(3):327–331 29. Pope MH, Frymoyer JW, Krag MH (1992) Diagnosing instability. Clin Orthop Relat Res 60–7. Review 30. Axelsson P, Karlsson BS (2004) Intervertebral mobility in the progressive degenerative process. A radiostereometric analysis. Eur Spine J 13(6):567–572 31. Aebi M (2005) The adult scoliosis. Eur Spine J 14(10): 925–948 32. Akbarnia BA, Ogilvie JW, Hammerberg KW (2006) Debate: degenerative scoliosis: to operate or not to operate. Spine 31(Suppl 19):S195–S201 33. Shapiro GS, Taira G, Boachie-Adjei O (2003) Results of surgical treatment of adult idiopathic scoliosis with low back pain and spinal stenosis: a study of long-term clinical radiographic outcomes [clinical case series]. Spine 28(4):358–363 34. Takahashi S, Delécrin J, Passuti N (2002) Surgical treatment of idiopathic scoliosis in adults: an age-related analysis of outcome [deformity]. Spine 27(16):1742–1748 35. Katz JN, Harris MB (2008) Clinical practice. Lumbar spinal stenosis. N Engl J Med 358(8):818–825 36. Weinstein JN, Tosteson TD, Lurie JD, Tosteson AN, Blood E, Hanscom B, Herkowitz H, Cammisa F, Albert T, Boden SD, Hilibrand A, Goldberg H, Berven S, An H; SPORT Investigators (2008) Surgical versus nonsurgical therapy for lumbar spinal stenosis. N Engl J Med 358(8):794–810 37. Spratt KF, Keller TS, Szpalski M, Vandeputte K, Gunzburg R (2004) A predictive model for outcome after conservative decompression surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis. Eur Spine J 13(1):14–21 38. Park P, Garton H, Gala VC, Hoff JT, McGillicuddy JE (2004) Adjacent segment disease after lumbar or lumbosacral fusion: reviews of the literature. Spine 29(17):1938–1944 39. Chen WJ, Lai PL, Niu CC, Chen LH, Fu TS, Wong CB (2001) Surgical treatment of adjacent instability after lumbar spine fusion. Spine 26(22):E519–E524 40. Penta M, Fraser RD (1997) Anterior lumbar interbody fusion: a minimum 10-year follow-up. Spine 22(20):2429–2434 41. Cheh G, Bridwell KG, Lenke LG, Buchowski JM, Daubs MD, Kim Y, Baldus C (2007) Adjacent segment disease following lumbar/thoracolumbar fusion with pedicle screw instrumentation: a minimum 5-year follow-up. Spine 32(20):2253–2257 42. Taskaynatan MA, Izci Y, Ozgul A, Hazneci B, Dursun H, Kalyon TA (2005) Clinical significance of congenital lumbosacral malformations in young male population with prolonged low back pain. Spine 30(8):E210–E213
M. Aebi 43. Luoma K, Vehmas T, Raininko R, Luukkonen R, Riihimaki H (2004) Lumbosacral transitional vertebra: relation to disc degeneration and low back pain. Spine 29(2):200–205 44. Brault JS, Smith J, Currier BL (2001) Partial lumbosacral transitional vertebra resection for contralateral facetogenic pain. Spine 26(2):226–229 45. Luoma K, Vehmas T, Raininko R, Luukkonen R, Riihimäki H (2004) Lumbosacral transitional vertebra: relation to disc degeneration and low back pain. Spine 29(2):200–205 46. Chaput C, Padon D, Rush J, Lenehan E, Rahm M (2007) The significance of increased fluid signal on magnetic resonance imaging in lumbar facets in relationship to degenerative spondylolisthesis. Spine 32(17):1883–1887 47. Buttermann GR, Garvey TA, Hunt AF, Transfeldt EE, Bradford DS, Boachie-Adjei O, Ogilvie JW (1998) Lumbar fusion results related to diagnosis. Spine 23(1):116–127 48. Steven ID, Fraser RD (1996) Clinical practice guidelines. Particular reference to the management of pain in the lumbosacral spine. Spine 21(13):1593–1596 49. Boos N, Semmer N, Elfering A et al (2002) Natural history individuals with asymptomatic disc abnormalities in magneticresonance imaging: predictors of low back parin-related medical consultation and work incapacity. Spine 25(12): 1484–1492 50. Bono CM, Lee CK (2004) Critical analysis of trends in fusion for degenerative disc disease over the past 20 years: influence of technique on fusion rate and clinical outcome. Spine 29(4):455–463 51. Moore KR, Pinto MR, Butler LM (2002) Degenerative disc disease treated with combined anterior and posterior arthrodesis and posterior instrumentation. Spine 27(15): 1680–1686 52. Herkowitz HN, Abraham DJ, Albert TJ (1999) Management of degenerative disc disease above an L5–S1 segment requiring arthrodesis. Spine 24(12):1268 53. van Tulder M, Becker A, Bekkering T, Breen A, del Real MT, Hutchinson A, Koes B, Laerum E, Malmivaara A; COST B13 Working Group on Guidelines for the Management of Acute Low Back Pain in Primary Care (2006) Chapter 3 European guidelines for the management of acute nonspecific low back pain in primary care. Eur Spine J 15(Suppl 2):S169–S191 54. Airaksinen O, Brox JI, Cedraschi C, Hildebrandt J, KlaberMoffett J, Kovacs F, Mannion AF, Reis S, Staal JB, Ursin H, Zanoli G; COST B13 Working Group on Guidelines for Chronic Low Back Pain (2006) Chapter 4 European guidelines for the management of chronic nonspecific low back pain. Eur. Spine J 15(Suppl 2):S192–S300 55. Schafer J, O’Connor D, Feinglass S, Salive M (2007) Medicare evidence development and coverage advisory committee meeting on lumbar fusion surgery for treatment of chronic back pain from degenerative disc disease [Editorial]. Spine 32(22):2403–2404 56. Søgaard R, Bünger CE, Laurberg I, Christensen FB (2007) Cost-effectiveness evaluation of an RCT in rehabilitation after lumbar spinal fusion: a low-cost, behavioural approach is cost-effective over individual exercise therapy. Eur Spine J 17(2):262–271
Evidence for Efficacy of Pedicle-Based Systems
4.2
Jeremy Fairbank
History Roy-Camille is widely attributed as the originator of pedicle screws. They became both popular and controversial in North America through the implant developments led by Art Steffee. Since then, many have contributed to implant and screw design, methods of connecting the screw heads to plates and rods and facilitating insertion and removal. From the inception of these devices there have been concerns about accuracy of insertion and methods of improving or perfecting implant insertion. Bioengineers have been involved in this process throughout, particularly in developing and testing robust designs that are easy to insert and use. This article is not offering a review of this work, which while perhaps incomplete, does give a clear message that pedicle screws are biomechanically sound. A recent article on pedicle screw in flexible fixation will allow access to the literature [1]. In contrast, the clinical evidence of efficacy is less clear-cut – this is what I shall explore in this chapter.
Indications Trauma The evidence base for fixation of spinal fractures is largely based on anecdote. One systematic review is Verlaan, 2004 [2]. Their conclusion, which is based on
J. Fairbank Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Oxford OX3 7LD, UK e-mail:
[email protected] a review of 132 reports (mainly retrospective caseseries) of a total of 5,748 patients, is that in general, surgical treatment of traumatic spine fractures is safe and effective. Surgical techniques can only be compared using randomized controlled trials. There is nothing specific about pedicle screws.
Deformity Pedicle screws have transformed spinal deformity surgery and are widely used. Using pedicle screws throughout the spine was pioneered by Suk in Korea [3]. Biomechanical evidence suggests that screws are better than alternative methods of attachment to the spine and this is the basis for the evidence base. This probably means that the spine will end up straighter [4]. Whether or not this provides a better clinical outcome is another question not addressed by the available literature [5].
Degenerative The important complications associated with pedicle screws are misplacement, pseudoarthrosis and revision. I am not discussing misplacement but the other two complications are important elements of success. Here the evidence base is more complex because the focus is on pain rather than deformity. It would seem that pedicle screws may increase the fusion rate, but not improve the clinical results. This area is made more complex because the indications for surgery for chronic back pain have a poor evidence base. First let us look at outcomes.
M. Szpalski et al. (eds.), Surgery for Low Back Pain, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-04547-9_4.2, © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2010
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Fifteen years ago, Zdeblick [6] published one of the earliest trials in spine surgery where degenerative spondylolisthesis in 124 patients was widely decompressed and fused either with or without pedicle screws. Sixty-four percent was fused in the non-instrumented arm compared with 88% in the instrumented arm. There were no differences in the clinical outcome. There were methodological problems with this study, but in the view of a review group, not withstanding these problems, the overall conclusion was valid [7]. However, if you look at the clinical outcome, there is nothing to choose between the groups. Fischgrund et al. reported a 2-year follow up of 76 patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis [8]. They were randomized to posterolateral fusion with or without instrumentation. Clinical outcome was excellent or good in 76% with instrumentation and 85% without instrumentation. Successful arthrodesis occurred in 82% with instrumentation and 45% without instrumentation. Overall, successful fusion did not influence patient outcome. The same patients were followed 5–14 years following surgery (Av f/u 7 year 8 months) [9]. Only 47 patients could be found (62%). They found the clinical outcome was excellent to good in 86% of patients with a solid arthrodesis, and only in 56% of the patients with a pseudoarthrosis. There were significant differences in residual back and lower limb pain, even though the preoperative back and lower limb pain was similar in these groups. The “solid fusion” group had better symptom severity and physical function. In spite of this, they found similar “patient satisfaction” status in each group. This was a prospective study, but with a high dropout, which should temper the interpretation of this result. France et al. prospectively randomized 71 fusion cases to pedicle fixation or no fixation. At 2 years, there was no difference in clinical outcome and a slight and non-significant increase in fusion rates [10]. In a Danish study, 129 patients were randomized by Christensen et al. to posterolateral fusion and decompression, with or without pedicle screws. At 5 years, 93% were followed up. Of those randomized to pedicle screws, a quarter (24%) required revision surgery compared with 14% of non-instrumented patients. There was no difference in work capacity (51%) or functional outcome between groups. Patient satisfaction was 70% in the uninstrumented group and 67% in the instrumented group.
J. Fairbank
The Swedish spine study randomized 294 patients to fusion by three different methods (and a fourth group to non-operative care) [11]. For the purposes of this chapter we shall look at the 222 patients randomized to posterolateral fusion alone (73 patients), posterior lateral fusion with instrumentation (mainly pedicle screws) (74 patients) and interbody fusion with instrumentation (75 patients). There were no clinical differences in outcome, but the early complication rates in each group were 6, 16 and 31%, respectively. However, the fusion rates were 72, 87 and 91%, respectively. In Norway [12, 13], 64 patients were randomized to posterior fusion with pedicle screws (1 or 2 levels) or cognitive interventional exercises. In the surgery group, the mean ODI was reduced from 41 to 26, and in the CBT group, ODI fell from 42 to 30. This reflects no clinical difference between groups. In the UK, we did the MRC Spine Stabilization Trial, for which we recruited 349 patients [14]. Patients were randomized to an intensive non-operative functional restoration programme or to spinal fusion of the surgeons’ choice. We have just published a report of the outcomes in the surgical arm of the study. In 176 patients, 3 groups of operations were chosen by the treating surgeons: 24 patients with flexible fixation (Graf/Global ligament), 56 patients with posterolateral fusion (96% fixed by pedicle screws) and 57 patients with interbody fusion with posterior fixation. At 2 years, revision surgery was needed in 8, 2 and 14% of each group, respectively. The economic cost of each group of operations in pounds sterling (mean and 95% confidence intervals) was £6927 (£6349–£7505), £6164 (£5565–£6763) and £9264 (£8594–£9933). This makes posterolateral fusion even with pedicle screws, cheaper than the other two options.
Conclusions Meta-analysis supports the conclusion that instrumentation increases fusion rates (Odds Ratio 2.3 (95% CI 1.1–4.8)), but not clinical outcome [15]. My conclusion would be that using posterior instrumentation for degenerative disorders (and that means pedicles screws) will increase the length of surgery, the complication rate, the revision rate, and hence, the cost of surgery over an uninstrumented fusion. If we look down the line at the clinical outcome, there seems little to favour instrumentation over non-instrumented fusion.
4.2 Evidence for Efficacy of Pedicle-Based Systems
This article is not here to ask if you should be doing fusions in the first place, but if you must, the first choice should be uninstrumented fusion. Deformity is another matter, and certainly better corrections can be obtained. There are still questions around the quality of the outcome. Spinal fractures are mainly managed successfully using pedicle screws, although again there are arguments for non-operative treatment of some fracture patterns.
References 1. Wilke H-J, Drumm J, Häussler K, Mack C, Steudel W-I, Kettler A (2008) Biomechanical effect of different lumbar interspinous implants on flexibility and intradiscal pressure. Eur Spine J 17(8):1049–1056 2. Verlaan J, Diekerhof C, Buskens E, van der Tweel I, Verbout A, Dhert W et al (2004) Surgical treatment of traumatic fractures of the thoracic and lumbar spine: a systematic review of the literature on techniques, complications, and outcome. Spine 29(7):803–814 3. Suk S, Lee C, Kim W, Chung Y, Park Y (1995) Segmental pedicle screw fixation in the treatment of thoracic idiopathic scoliosis. Spine 20(12):1399–1405 4. Lehman R, Lenke L, Keeler K, Kim Y, Buchowski J, Cheh G et al (2008) Operative treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis with posterior pedicle screw-only constructs: minimum three-year follow-up of one hundred fourteen cases. Spine 33(14):1598–1604 5. Winter R, Lonstein J, Denis F (2007) How much correction is enough? Spine 32(24):2641–2643 6. Zdeblick TA (1993) A prospective, randomized study of lumbar fusion. Preliminary results. Spine 18(8):983–991 7. Angevine P, Dickman C, McCormick P (2007) Lumbar fusion with and without pedicle screw fixation: comments on a prospective, randomized study. Spine 32(13):1466–1471
125 8. Fischgrund J, Mackay M, Herkowitz H, Brower R, Montgomery D, Kurz L (1997) Degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis with spinal stenosis: a prospective randomized study comparing decompressive laminectomy and arthrodesis with or without spinal instrumentation. Spine 22: 2807–2812 9. Kornblum M, Fischgrund J, Herkowitz H, Abraham D, Berkower D, Ditkoff J (2004) Degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis with spinal stenosis: a prospective long-term study comparing fusion and pseudarthrosis. Spine 29(7): 726–733 10. France JC, Michael J, Lauerman WC, Cain JE, Glover JM, Lawson KJ, Coe JD et al (1999) A randomized prospective study of posterolateral lumbar fusion: outcomes with and without pedicle screw instrumentation. Spine 24(6): 553–560 11. Fritzell P, Hagg O, Wessburg P, Nordwall A, Group SLSS (2002) Chronic back pain and fusion: a comparison of three surgical techniques: a prospective multicentre randomized study from the Swedish Lumbar Spine Study Group. Spine 27:1131–1141 12. Brox J, Sørensen R, Friis A, Nygaard Ø, Indahl A, Keller A et al (2003) Randomized clinical trial of lumbar instrumented fusion and cognitive intervention and exercises in patients with chronic low back pain and disc degeneration. Spine 28(17):1913–1921 13. Brox J, Reikerås O, Nygaard Ø, Sørensen R, Indahl A, Holm I et al (2006) Lumbar instrumented fusion compared with cognitive intervention and exercises in patients with chronic back pain after previous surgery for disc herniation: a prospective randomized controlled study. Pain 122(1–2): 145–155 14. Wilson-MacDonald J, Fairbank J, Frost H, Yu L-M, Barker K, Collins R et al (2008) The MRC spine stabilization trial: surgical methods, outcomes, costs, and complications of surgical stabilization. Spine 33(21):2334–2340 15. Gibson J, Waddell G (2005) Surgery for degenerative lumbar spondylosis: updated cochrane review. Spine 30(20): 2312–2320
Low Back Pain Is Not an Indication for Stabilisation in Patients Operated for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
4.3
E. Munting
Introduction According to text books and the princeps paper of Verbiest, the typical complaints of patients presenting with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) are neurogenic claudication, radicular pain and neurological impairment like motor deficit or sensory disturbance [1]. In daily clinical practise, it appears that the symptoms associated with LSS range from none to one or several of the following: neurogenic claudication, radicular pain, motor deficit, sensory alterations or deficit and low back pain (LBP). The latter is often the major symptom that leads the patient to seek treatment. LBP is significant in up to 75% of the patients with LSS. While it is agreed upon that the surgical decompression of the compromised neural structures will cure or relieve peripheral symptoms in a significant number of cases, the therapeutic attitude regarding LBP remains a subject of controversy [2, 3]. Indications for fusion, with or without instrumentation, or stabilisation by some non-rigid means are still not well-defined. The presence of LBP, disc degeneration, spondylolysthesis, instability on dynamic radiographs or iatrogenic instability induced by facetectomy or discectomy are among the arguments invoked to carry out some type of stabilisation. However, the indication for instrumentation must be discussed in view of the demonstrated increase of morbidity associated to it and a series of contraindications for stabilisation often observed in the same group of patients: osteoporosis, obesity, multi-level hyper-mobility, risk factors for infection like diabetes, cortisone therapy, etc.
E. Munting Clinique Saint Pierre, 1340 Ottignies Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium e-mail:
[email protected] Finally, the true contribution of stabilisation to the improvement of outcome in the treatment of spinal stenosis vs. selective decompression alone is not known, except in cases of major, focal instability where fusion is mandatory. The picture is even more confused because of the large variety of procedures that are used regarding decompression as well as stabilisation. Decompression can be obtained by total laminectomy with or without facet resection or limited laminotomy by fenestrations between lamina, sparing the facet joints as initially described by Senegas [4]. This can even be improved by preserving the spinous process and the supraspinous ligament allowing for reinsertion of the lumbar fascia by the end of the procedure. When comparing the local anatomy after completion of a laminectomy vs. the fenestration technique, it is obvious that a difference in spine function may result. With the conservative procedure, after healing, strong adherences are formed between the soft tissues and the posterior elements, providing better stability and possibly better functionality to the vertebral column. A recent prospective study by Fu et al. does indicate a better outcome of the fenestration technique as compared to laminectomy in particular regarding LBP [5]. This is in accordance with the work of Postacchini et al. who already showed a better outcome regarding LBP in patients treated by partial laminotomy compared to classic laminectomy [6]. The same confusion exists regarding stabilisation. Stabilisation can be obtained by fusion with or without instrumentation or only by instrumentation without fusion including systems with pedicular anchoring united by polymeric strands, claiming to present less rigidity, or even more recently, interspinous devices intended to open up the spinal canal. Some peer reviewed studies do not substantiate the initial enthusiasm for these procedures [7]. Besides the different
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techniques, the indication for any type of stabilisation is not better defined. This study will not bring an answer to these questions. However, in our daily practise, we did see a lot of patients with spinal stenosis of which major complaint was LBP, associated to some extent to neurogenic claudication and/or nerve root pain. Quite often, after decompressive laminotomy sparing the posterior elements and without any kind of stabilising device, the patients reported the disappearance or significant improvement of their LBP. Therefore, we decided to assess more specifically the outcome of LBP in LSS patients after decompression by minimal laminotomy, sparing the facet joints, the spinous processes and the supraspinous ligaments. Stabilisation was only carried out when major instability was demonstrated peroperatively.
Fig. 4.3.1 a–d: Pre- and post-operative aspect of the spinal canal treated by the fenestration technique
Materials and Methods Hundred and thirty six patients operated for LSS with a minimum 1-year follow-up were reviewed. A grade 1 degenerative spondylolysthesis was observed in 40 of these patients. Patients were assessed pre- and postoperatively by Dallas questionnaire or by grading their LBP as severe, significant, minor or absent. The same was asked for leg/buttock pain and walking capacity. The decompression procedure also called “calibration” involves flavoligamentectomy, undercutting of the lamina, the facet joints and the neuroforamina as needed, according to the preoperative MRI and/or CT-scan (Fig. 4.3.1). In case of disc protrusion, discectomy and/or disc osteophytes resection is carried out if the canal calibration is not sufficient to decompress the
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4.3 Low Back Pain Is Not an Indication for Stabilisation in Patients Operated for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
neural structures. The caudal half of the lamina, the spinous processes and the supra-spinous ligament are preserved. After decompression, the lumbar fascia is carefully re-attached to the spinous process and the supra-spinous ligament. The patient is encouraged to walk the day after surgery. No brace is prescribed.
Results Laminotomy was associated with some type of stabilisation in 18/136 of the cases (13%), because of major instability (over 5 mm antero-posterior mobility) and independently of the presence of degenerative spondylolysthesis. Instrumented arthrodesis was preferred in case of focal instability (11 cases: 8%) and Dynesisr (Zimmer, Warsaw) in case of multilevel instability (7 cases: 5%). Five cases with laminotomy only were lost to follow-up. Overall results were good or excellent in 84 (74%) of isolated laminotomies, in 11/11 laminotomies with arthrodesis and in 2/7 laminotomies with Dynesisr. Out of 113 patients presenting severe or significant LBP preoperatively and undergoing only laminotomy, 74% were significantly improved regarding LBP. Seven patients had to be re-operated for some reason, of which two because of symptomatic instability with LBP requiring instrumented fusion and one after stabilisation with a Dynesisr that became loose after some months. The patient’s LBP was cured by simple removal of the hardware. Radicular symptoms resolved or were significantly improved in 87% and walking distance was increased in 90% of the patients. Incidental durotomy had no adverse effect except in one case where a re-operation was needed for dural tear repair.
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considered as a distinct entity in which, a priori, the treatment should be selective decompression and not arthrodesis. A recent paper by Visuri et al. shows, with an MRI study, that LSS predicts chronic LBP more accurately than intervertebral disc degeneration may support the idea of a specific link between LSS and LBP [9]. Minimal laminotomy sparing the spinous processes and the supraspinous ligament obviously allows fixation of the paraspinal muscles and lumbar fascia to the vertebrae. The healing process and the unavoidable fibrosis associated with it, provides a very strong and “dynamic” stabilisation means that may partially explain the high frequency of significant improvement of LBP in patients undergoing only laminotomy without stabilisation. The avoidance of direct adhesion of the muscles to the dural sac – as observed in classic laminectomy – is also theoretically favourable. Whatever the reasons for improvement or cure of LBP observed only after decompression , the facts are that the incidence of these favourable results, are similar to what is observed for arthrodesis indicated for LBP. Obviously, all the potential complications specifically related to instrumented fusion or stabilisation are avoided while performing decompression only. The incidence of relative contraindications for stabilisation is quite elevated in LSS patients. Osteoporosis affects 55% of the people of age 50 and older in the United States [10]. Diabetes, obesity, smoking, long-term steroid use are also conditions often found in elderly patients that increase the risk for infection, non-union or hardware loosening in case of non-fusion techniques. Multi-level involvement of spinal stenosis and degenerative alterations is another fact that renders difficult the definition of the levels to be treated. The more levels to be instrumented, the higher the risk for complications.
Discussion Conclusions In LSS, Grob et al. [8] did not find any difference in outcome of decompression with or without arthrodesis in the absence of obvious instability. When LBP is a major symptom in patients with LSS, significant improvement by decompression alone can be obtained if severe instability is not demonstrated prior or at the time of surgery. When associated with LSS, disabling LBP should be
Demonstrated, biomechanical instability is an excellent indication for fusion in patients with LSS. In patients with spinal stenosis in the absence of obvious instability, decompression by serial fenestrations without fixation improves LBP significantly in 74% of the patients. The symptom “LBP” is not an
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indication for fusion or stabilisation in the absence of instability. This is advantageous in terms of lesser risk for complications and economically by avoiding the significant costs of spinal instrumentation. The indications for some type of stabilisation should be restricted to well-defined cases of severe and focal instability that can be demonstrated during surgery. The preservation of the spinous processes and the supraspinous ligament and the reinsertion of the lumbar fascia to these structures contribute to the longterm stability of the spine.
References 1. Verbiest H (1954) Aradicular syndromefrom developmental narrowing of the lubar vertebral canal. J Bone Joint Surg 36B:230–237 2. Keller AS, RB WuYA, Deyo RA, Singer DE (2005) Longterm outcomes of surgical and nonsurgical management of lumbar spinal stenosis: 8 to 10 year results from the Maine lumbar spine study. Spine 15:936–943 3. Weinstein JN, Lurie JD, Tosteson TD, Hanscom B, Tosteson AN, Blood EA, Birkmeyer NJ, Hilibrand AS, Herkowitz H, Cammisa FP, Albert TJ, Emery SE, Lenke LG, Abdu WA,
E. Munting Longley M, Errico TJ, Hu SS (2007) Surgical versus nonsurgical treatment for lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis. N Engl J Med 356(22):2257–2270 4. Senegas J, Etchevers JP, Vital JM, Baulny D, Grenier F (1988) Recalibration of the lumbar canal, an alternative to laminectomy in the treatment of lumbar canal stenosis. Rev Chir Orthop Rep Appar Mot 74:15–22 5. Fu YS, Zeng BF, Xu JG (2008) Long-term outcomes of two different decompressive techniques for lumbar spinal stenosis. Spine 33:514–518 6. Postacchini F, Cinotti G, Perugia D, Gumina S (1993) The surgical treatment of central lumbar stenosis. Multiple laminotomy compared with total laminectomy. J Bone Joint Surg Br 75(3):386–392 7. Verhoof OJ, Bron JL, Wapstra FH, van Royen BJ (2008) High failure rate of the interspinous distraction device (X-Stop) for the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis caused by degenerative spondylolisthesis. Eur Spine J 17(2): 188–192 8. Grob D, Humke T, Dvorak J (1995) Degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis. Decompression with and without arthrodesis. J Bone Joint Surg Am 77(7):1036–1041 9. Visuri T et al (2005) Narrowing of lumbar spinal canal predicts chronic low back pain more accurately than intervertebral disc degeneration: a magnetic resonance imaging study in young finnish male conscripts. Mil Med 170(11): 926–930 10. National Osteoporosis Foundation. America’s bone health: The state of osteoporosis and low bone mass in our nation. February 2002
Hybrid Construct for DDD in the Lumbar Spine: The Compromise Between Fusion and Nonfusion
4.4
J. C. Le Huec, R. Meyrat, F. Debusscher, and S. Aunoble
Total disk replacement (TDR) above an ALIF in the lumbar spine is a very encouraging solution; results available are attractive but needs to be confirmed with long-term follow-up studies. But we should not forget the importance of sagittal balance on clinical results. Other hybrid constructs are available for transitional zone. It is widely recognized that a transitional zone located immediately above a fused segment is submitted to abnormal stresses. Several experiments on animals have supported this theory, but clinical studies regarding this subject remain controversial. Pellisé [1] demonstrated that all levels above the fusion zone degenerate in the same manner. Lazennec [2] showed a strong correlation between poor clinical outcomes in an otherwise successful lumbar fusion with spine sagittal imbalance and this has been recently confirmed by Jang [3]. Given these findings, we feel that a hybrid construct may be a logical solution for the treatment of LBP [4]. It corrects spinal balance while reducing the risk for adjacent level disease. To try to demonstrate this theory we will analyze different solutions available on the market today. Only those with evidence-based results will be analyzed deeply to see if the clinical results support the avoidance of adjacent disk disease above a fusion zone. First of all, the shape of the spine seems to be crucial. According to P Roussouly [5], in the sagittal plan, there are 4 types of curvature of the spinal column and the shape of the pelvis is directly dependent on the shape of the lumbar spine. Due to disk degeneration, which is genetically driven [6], the shape of the lumbar spine can change with the aging process. The disk
collapse leads to a loss of local lordosis and a loss of global lordosis that can modify the sagittal balance completely (Fig. 4.4.1). Restoration of the initial equilibrium is the first goal [2, 3]. Doing so, it is important to pay attention to different factors like facets and muscles conditions. These can interfere with the solution used to restore the
J. C. Le Huec (*) Spine Unit, Bordeaux University Hospital, CHU Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France e-mail:
[email protected] Fig. 4.4.1 (a) lumbar lordosis was 48° on X rays at an early stage but disc collapsed at L5S1 (b) lumbar lordosis 20 years later is 38,4° showing the loss of balance with disc collapse at level L5S1 and above (EOS measurement sytem)
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balance. Restoration of lordosis with facet arthritis is a bad concept, and keeping motion on a segment with bad muscles is not appropriate [7]. The transitional zone adjacent to a fusion can be treated through either an anterior and/or posterior approach. Two techniques are available for the anterior approach: nucleus replacement and TDR. Among all the nucleus replacement devices, only PDN Raymedica [8, 9] has a long follow-up. However, long-term outcome seems to be disappointing [8]. Recently the DASCOR [10] presented a 3-year follow-up with promising results (Fig. 4.4.2). However, more extensive studies need to be done before any conclusion can be arrived at. The second anterior approach technique, using TDR, has become very popular in recent years. In the presence of good posterior paraspinous muscles and in the absence of facet problems, TDR is a very elegant technique that allows the patient to contour his spine and restore balance [11, 12]. According to Le Huec [13], TDR can decrease the stress on the adjacent level by decreasing the lordosis at the adjacent level (Fig. 4.4.3).
a
b Fig. 4.4.2 (a) principle of balloon DASCOR technology (Disc Dynamic, Minneapolis, USA). Once in the disc the balloon is insufflated with polymer to obtain a mechanical support between the endplates (b) post operative MRI showing the device in good position
TDR above an ALIF in the lumbar spine seems to be a good compromise [14–16], particularly at level L4–5 since it is the most important level involved in restoring the lumbar lordosis and overall balance [17]. The recent IDE study (2-years follow-up) using Maverick demonstrated statistical superiority of the TDR compared to fusion ALIF (anterior lumbar interbody fusion) in the treatment of discogenic back pain [18]. This is very encouraging, but needs to be confirmed on a long-term follow-up at 5 years to demonstrate the efficacy of the prevention of adjacent disk disease. Since the posterior approach is the most common approach for the treatment of DDD and LBP, its effects on the transitional zone after a fusion need to be evaluated. The posterior approach requires detachment of the posterior paraspinal muscles and leads to fatty degeneration and loss of function [7, 19]. Compromise of the paraspinal muscles reduces support of the transitional zone. A weakened transitional zone in a spine with sagittal imbalance can lead to further decompensation and further instability. Several dynamic stabilization systems have been developed aimed at the transitional zone [20].
4.4 Hybrid Construct for DDD in the Lumbar Spine: The Compromise Between Fusion and Nonfusion
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Fig. 4.4.3 (a, b) TDR can decrease the stress on the adjacent level by decreasing the lordosis at the adjacent level
Interspinous devices often used for the treatment of stenosis are not designed to reduce the stresses at the transitional zone. They increase the local kyphosis, limit extension, and increase the load on the anterior part of the disk. Today, the efficacy of interspinous devices to prevent adjacent pathologies has not been demonstrated [21]. Pedicular-based systems initially reported by Dubois have brought forth the concept of disk neutralization [22, 23]. Clinical experience using this technology extends beyond 10 years. The Dynesis system is one such system where a flexible rod system allows controlled flexion and extension [24]. However, Dynesis is very stiff when compared with titanium rods, and according to Grob D [25], (Fig. 4.4.4) demonstrates little advantage over fusion. In contrast, Putzier M has demonstrated a significant decrease in postdiscectomy LBP using Dynesis in a prospective randomized trial [26]. The Aladin system developed by Perrin has showed some promising results on midterm follow-up, but there was no balance analysis report. More recent technologies (N spine, Penjabi system, Cosmic, etc.) that display more physiological flexibility and force distribution have been implanted. Only short-term follow-ups are available. Longer follow-ups are needed to confirm efficacy. The objective of all dynamic systems is to limit flexion and the resulting kyphosis above the fused level and to allow some controlled extension [20].
Theoretically, it prevents or slows degeneration of a normal or near-normal disk at the transitional zone. In cases of a collapsed disk the advantage of these systems is less meaningful because the disk is stiff [22]. Since fusion is not the goal, there is a risk for instrumentation fatigue, and eventually, instrumentation failure (screw loosening, breakage, etc.). Pedicular-based system implanted with high disk leads to a risk of implant failure after disk collapse due to overstress on the screws. In addition to the posterior-based stabilization system, in case of presence of a disk height able to maintain some motion, it seems that to support the nucleus may solve the problem related to the disk collapse leading to pedicular screw failure. This is a new hybrid concept that needs to be evaluated. 360° function restoration is the new challenge. Anyway, the advantage of motion preservation must be in balance with a good fusion in good position as recommended by par Jang and Lazennec [2, 3].
Conclusions Hybrid construct is an interesting solution to prevent overstress at adjacent level than a fusion [27]. Keeping mobility on the adjacent fusion level seems to be effective for the prevention of adjacent disk disease.
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References
Fig. 4.4.4 Dynesis (Zimmer spine, Warsaw, USA) is a posterior pedicle based system used to prevent overstress on the top of fused segment
Different devices are available for the surgeon; some need anterior approach and others posterior approach. Long-term outcomes are not yet well known for these techniques, but some display better results already. TDR above an ALIF in the lumbar spine is a very encouraging solution; results available are attractive but needs to be confirmed with long-term follow-up studies. But do not forget the importance of the sagittal balance on surgical results.
1. Pellisé F, Hernández A, Vidal X, Minguell J, Martínez C, Villanueva C (2007) Radiologic assessment of all unfused lumbar segments 7.5 years after instrumented posterior spinal fusion. Spine 32(5):574–579 2. Lazennec JY, Ramaré S, Arafati N, Laudet CG, Gorin M, Roger B, Hansen S, Saillant G, Maurs L, Trabelsi R (2000) Sagittal alignment in lumbosacral fusion: relations between radiological parameters and pain. Eur Spine J 9(1):47–55 3. Jang JS, Lee SH, Min JH, Kim SK, Han KM, Maeng DH (2007) Surgical treatment of failed back surgery syndrome due to sagittal imbalance. Spine 32(26):3081–3087 4. Bertagnoli R, Tropiano P, Zigler J, Karg A, Voigt S (2005) Hybrid constructs. Orthop Clin North Am 36(3):379–388 5. Roussouly P, Berthonnaud E, Dimnet J (2003) Geometrical and mechanical analysis of lumbar lordosis in an asymptomatic population: proposed classification. Rev Chir Orthop Reparatrice Appar Mot 89(7):632–639 6. Battié MC, Videman T (2006) Lumbar disc degeneration: epidemiology and genetics. J Bone Joint Surg Am 88(Suppl 2): 3–9 7. Suwa H, Hanakita J, Ohshita N, Gotoh K, Matsuoka N, Morizane A (2000) Postoperative changes in paraspinal muscle thickness after various lumbar back surgery procedures. Neurol Med Chir 40(3):151–154; discussion 154–155 8. Bertagnoli R, Karg A, Voigt S (2005) Lumbar partial disc replacement. Orthop Clin North Am 36(3):341–347 9. Ray CD (2002) The PDN prosthetic disc-nucleus device. Eur Spine J 11(Suppl 2):S137–S142 10. Yuan HA, Hudging G, Bao QB, Bowman B (2003) Early experience with a new and novel approach to disc nucleus arthroplasty. Presented at the third annual meeting of the spine Arthroplasty society, Phoenix Arizona, May 1–4 11. Panjabi M, Henderson G, Abjornson C, Yue J (2007) Multidirectional testing of one- and two-level ProDisc-L versus simulated fusions. Spine 32(12):1311–1319 12. Tournier C, Aunoble S, Le Huec JC, Lemaire JP, Tropiano P, Lafage V, Skalli W (2007) Total disc arthroplasty: consequences for sagittal balance and lumbar spine movement. Eur Spine J 16(3):411–421 13. Le Huec J, Basso Y, Mathews H, Mehbod A, Aunoble S, Friesem T, Zdeblick T (2005) The effect of single-level, total disc arthroplasty on sagittal balance parameters: a prospective study. Eur Spine J 14(5):480–486 14. Goel VK, Grauer JN, Patel TCh, Biyani A, Sairyo K, Vishnubhotla S, Matyas A, Cowgill I, Shaw M, Long R, Dick D, Panjabi MM, Serhan H (2005) Effects of charité artificial disc on the implanted and adjacent spinal segments mechanics using a hybrid testing protocol. Spine 30(24): 2755–2764 15. Grauer JN, Biyani A, Faizan A, Kiapour A, Sairyo K, Ivanov A, Ebraheim NA, Patel TCh, Goel VK (2006) Biomechanics of two-level Charité artificial disc placement in comparison to fusion plus single-level disc placement combination. Spine 6(6):659–666 16. Panjabi M, Malcolmson G, Teng E, Tominaga Y, Henderson G, Serhan H (2007) Hybrid testing of lumbar CHARITE discs versus fusions. Spine 32(9):959–966; discussion 967
4.4 Hybrid Construct for DDD in the Lumbar Spine: The Compromise Between Fusion and Nonfusion 17. Siepe CJ, Mayer HM, Heinz-Leisenheimer M, Korge A (2007) Total lumbar disc replacement: different results for different levels. Spine 32(7):782–790 18. Gornet MF, Burkus JK, Mathews HH et al (2007) MAVERICK total disc replacement vs. anterior lumbar interbody fusion with the infuse bone graft/LT-CAGE device: a prospective, randomized, controlled, multicenter trial. Presented at the 22nd annual North American Spine Society, Austin, Texas, Oct. 23–27 19. Gille O, Jolivet E, Dousset V, Degrise C, Obeid I, Vital JM, Skalli W (2007) Erector spinae muscle changes on magnetic resonance imaging following lumbar surgery through a posterior approach. Spine 32(11):1236–1241 20. Zander T, Rohlmann A, Burra NK, Bergmann G (2006) Effect of a posterior dynamic implant adjacent to a rigid spinal fixator. Clin Biomech 21(8):767–774 21. Gillet P (2007) Comment on “Long-term actuarial survivorship analysis of an interspinous stabilization system.” Eur Spine J 16(8):1289–1290. Epub 2007 Mar 30 22. Schwarzenbach O, Berlemann U, Stoll TM, Dubois G (2005) Posterior dynamic stabilization systems: DYNESYS. Orthop Clin North Am 36(3):363–372
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23. Stoll TM, Dubois G, Schwarzenbach O (2002) The dynamic neutralization system for the spine: a multi-center study of a novel non-fusion system. Eur Spine J 11(Suppl 2):S170–S178. Epub 2002 Sep 10 24. Schmoelz W, Huber JF, Nydegger T et al (2003) Dynamic stabilization of the lumbar spine and its effect on adjacent segments: an in vitro experiment. J Spinal Disord Tech 16:418–423 25. Grob D, Benini A, Junge A, Mannion AF (2005) Clinical experience with the Dynesys semirigid fixation system for the lumbar spine: surgical and patient-oriented outcome in 50 cases after an average of 2 years. Spine 30(3): 324–331 26. Putzier M, Schneider SV, Funk JF, Tohtz SW, Perka C (2005) The surgical treatment of the lumbar disc prolapse: nucleotomy with additional transpedicular dynamic stabilization versus nucleotomy alone. Spine 30(5):E109–E114 27. Cheng BC, Gordon J, Cheng J, Welch WC (2007) Immediate biomechanical effects of lumbar posterior dynamic stabilization above a circumferential fusion. Spine 32(23):2551–2557
The Management of Spondylolysis and Spondylolisthesis
4.5
Brian J. C. Freeman and Ujjwal K. Debnath
Spondylolysis Spondylolysis is defined as a defect in the pars interarticularis (PI) and is unique to humans by virtue of their upright posture [1–3]. The foetal incidence of spondylolysis has conclusively been shown to be zero. By 6 years of age, the incidence has been reported at 4.4% and by adulthood at 6% [4]. Defects of the PI are twice as common in boys compared to girls. The incidence in the young athletic population is also much higher, and varies between 15 and 47% [5–8]. Ciullo et al. suggest that heredity plays a significant role in the clinical manifestation of this condition [9]. Repetitive loading in an individual with such genetic susceptibility ultimately leads to a stress fracture of the PI. Interestingly, neural arch defects have not been demonstrated in other primates. Alaskan Eskimos have an unusually high incidence between 20 and 50% [10]. The relative frequency of spondylolysis in Canadian Eskimos doubles between adolescence and early adulthood [11]. During embryological development, two factors may contribute to developmental dysplasia of the PI. First, ossification does not progress uniformly in the lower lumbar segments. Second, there appears to be a transition in density between trabecular bone in the pars and the inferior articulating facet and the less dense trabecular bone at the base of the pedicle. If this differential ossification in tissue type and density persists into childhood, a potential area of weakness may exist [12]. With further mechanical stress, fatigue fracture may occur.
B. J. C. Freeman (*) Department of Spinal Surgery, Level 3, Theatre Block, Royal Adelaide Hospital, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia e-mail:
[email protected] Clinical Presentation Typically, patients present with aching low back pain (LBP) “along the belt line”. Pain may radiate to the posterior aspect of the thighs. It may be unilateral or bilateral and is often exacerbated by hyper-extension and twisting. Radicular involvement is rare. The standing one-leg lumbar extension manoeuvre typically accentuates pain. More symptomatic patients may have lumbar paraspinal muscle spasm and pain throughout the full range of lumbar motion. Athletes have a higher incidence and prevalence of symptomatic lesions which develop at a different age compared to those observed in the asymptomatic population [13]. The sports-active individual may present with earlier and more painful LBP, compared to those in the general population. In addition, the sports-active individual with a PI defect appears to suffer from greater loss of function compared to when a PI defect exists in the general population. Natural history studies show unilateral pars defects not to be associated with the development of spondylolisthesis or significant disability [4]. Bilateral pars defects in the general population developed symptomatic progression in only a small percentage of subjects over the long term [4]. The prognosis for a 6-year-old child with a pars defect in terms of disability and pain appears to follow that of the general population [14]. Periods of most rapid and likely slippage occur between 9 and 15 years [9]. Progressive slippage after the completion of vertebral growth (circa 18–21 years) is rare. There has been much speculation regarding the source of pain in spondylolysis. Soft tissue obtained from the pars defect at the time of surgery has been shown, by immunolocalization techniques, to contain neuropeptides associated with sensory or nociceptive transmission, possibly implicating the “spondylolysis
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ligament” as a source of pain [15]. In another study, connective and scar tissue harvested from the pars defect of symptomatic patients contained a high density of neural tissue, also implicating the pars as a potential pain source [16]. Ciullo et al. postulated two possible sources of pain; first from the acute stress fracture, and second from the segmental instability that may follow [9]. While some authors contest the fact that segmental instability leads to pain [17], others have more clearly implicated the inter-vertebral disc or facet joint as a source of pain [18]. To complicate matters further, pars defects are not universally painful. In one survey of 32,600 asymptomatic individuals, a pars defect was noted in 7.2% [19].
Investigations Plain lateral radiographs often may not reveal a pars defect, particularly if the defect is unilateral. The sensitivity may be increased if oblique radiographs are
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utilized to check for the “Scottie dog sign”. However, the use of oblique radiographs incurs an excessive radiation dose for the patient and should be avoided. Both planar bone scintigraphy and single-photonemission computed tomography (SPECT) are more sensitive than plain radiographs in detecting pars lesions. They may also be able to distinguish between radiographic lesions that are active and those that are inactive (and presumably asymptomatic) [20–25]. SPECT offers a more sensitive indication of low intensity metabolic bone activity and bony remodelling, especially in early subtle stress reactions, than planar bone scintigraphy [20]. As the spondylolysis becomes chronic, SPECT reverts to normal, even though the spondylolysis has not completely healed [20, 22, 24–26]. Computerized tomography (CT) is applied using the reverse gantry technique, ensuring that the plane of the scan is perpendicular to that of the defect, and in thin section. In this format, CT is the most specific investigation for demonstrating a spondylolysis (Fig. 4.5.1a). It is the investigation of choice for a
b
Fig. 4.5.1 (a) Reverse-gantry computed tomography through L5 showing bilateral pars defects (from Debnath et al. [44] with permission). (b) Antero-posterior radiograph following Modified Buck’s repair of L5 spondylolysis (from Debnath et al. [44] with permission). (c) Lateral radiograph following Modified Buck’s repair of L5 spondylolysis (from Debnath et al. [44] with permission)
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4.5 The Management of Spondylolysis and Spondylolisthesis
identifying radiographically occult lesions [24]. Combined SPECT and CT increases the probability of diagnosis of a pars defect [27]. Preoperative evaluation with CT scan is essential in planning for operative fixation. It gives valuable information regarding the morphology of the defect particularly in terms of its site, width, orientation and gapping [28, 29]. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers reduced radiation exposures and is gaining popularity for the investigation of patients with suspected injuries of the PI. Short T1 inversion recovery images can reveal changes within the PI, as well as oedema within the pedicles, thus providing greater sensitivity when compared to other imaging modalities [30]. Hollenberg et al. described a new MRI classification system which defines five grades of pars defect (Table 4.5.1) and demonstrated high intra- and inter-observer reliability [31].
Treatment Conservative Treatment Treatment depends on the severity of symptoms, age of the patient and level of sporting activity. Conservative options include: avoidance of sporting activity, trunk stability, strength training and analgesic medication or brace treatment. The aim of managing painful lesions
Table 4.5.1 Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) classification of lumbar PI defects from Hollenberg et al. [31] (with permission) Grade Description of MRI Findings 0
Normal, no signal abnormalities of PI
1
T2 signal abnormalities of PI with or without signal changes of adjacent pedicle or articular process, but no spondylolysis
2
T2 signal abnormalities and thinning, fragmentation or irregularity of the PI visible on T1 and T2-weighted images
3
Visible complete unilateral or bilateral spondylolysis with associated abnormal T2 signal
4
Complete spondylolysis without abnormal T2 signal (old united fractures)
PI pars interarticularis
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in young active individuals is to achieve bony union (or at least a fibrous union) of the pars defect in order to eliminate movement across the defect. The basic components of conservative treatment can be split into four areas. 1. Reduction of activity level that causes the pain and relative immobilization. 2. Stretching the hamstrings and glutei. 3. Abdominal strengthening exercises and back extensors, including core stability and functional stabilizing programmes. 4. Graded return to provocative exercise when symptoms subside to allow comfortable exercise. Conservative treatment in the form of bracing and avoidance of sports for at least 3–6 months has been recommended. Steiner and Micheli treated symptomatic patients with a modified Boston brace worn for 23 h per day for 6 months, followed by a weaning period [32]. Participation in sports was permitted, provided the brace was worn and the activity did not produce symptoms. Appropriate physical therapy includes hamstring and lumbo-sacral stretching, along with abdominal core strengthening [33]. Criteria for return to sports are dominated by symptom-led decisions and rarely based on the natural history of the lesion in terms of healing. The healing potential for a symptomatic unilateral pars defect is higher than bilateral spondylolytic defects. This has been established by Sys et al. who followed up 11 athletes with unilateral spondylolysis demonstrating healing rates of 100% [34]. Fuji et al. suggested that the stage of the defect at diagnosis was the most important predictor of successful union [35]. Non-operative management for 6–12 months has been declared the gold standard for managing patients with either unilateral or bilateral spondylolysis [36, 37].
Surgical Treatment A small percentage of patients need surgery. The incidence of disabling LBP due to a pars defect in the young competitive athlete is low. However, there are some individuals who experience disabling symptoms that are unresponsive to conservative treatment and preclude them from participating in their sport. Historically, postero-lateral fusion with or without excision of the posterior elements had been the
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recommended surgical treatment. Loss of motion and increased load on the adjacent segment have however made this an unpopular treatment. Removal of the fibrous non-union, insertion of autogenous bone graft and direct repair of the PI defect eliminates the main locus of pain and preserves motion in that motion segment. Injection of the pars defect with local anaesthetic has been advocated to confirm the source of pain prior to surgical intervention [11, 38]. Several techniques have been developed to stabilize a spondylolytic defect in the lumbar spine. Commonly used methods include the direct repair described by Buck [39] (Fig. 4.5.1b, c), the Morscher hook screw [40, 41], the Scott wiring technique [42] and other screw-hook combinations [43]. Several authors have analyzed the effectiveness of various systems with successful outcomes reported in 72–95% of patients [39–47]. Biomechanical studies on fresh frozen calf lumbar spines with artificially-induced bilateral pars defects confirmed increased inter-vertebral mobility, not only at the involved level, but also at the level adjacent to the defect [48]. This hyper-mobility of both segments was significantly reduced by a “Buck’s repair” of the spondylolytic segment. Deguchi et al. carried out a biomechanical comparison of four spondylolysis fixation techniques [49]. The screw-rod-hook system of Morscher and Buck’s technique allowed the least motion across the pars defect, when tested in flexion [49]. Similarly, Kip et al. concluded that these two techniques provided the strongest and stiffest construct [50]. Predictors of successful surgical outcome include; age less than 25 years, spondylolysis of less than 4 mm, absence of disc degeneration at the target level, positive response to a pars block, method of surgical repair and psychological motivation of the individual undergoing surgery [38, 39, 44, 51]. Ivanic et al. reported a pseudarthrosis rate of 8.6% for patients less than 20 years, compared to 35% in patients over the age of 20 years [40]. Should an additional source of pain, such as the inter-vertebral disc, be confirmed on lumbar discography, most authors would proceed with an instrumented fusion of the affected motion segment if the patient was sufficiently disabled. Others have strived to retain motion, performing a direct repair of the pars defect in
B. J. C. Freeman and U. K. Debnath
conjunction with a total disc replacement for such individuals [52].
Summary Lumbar spondylolysis is a common condition with an adult incidence of 6%, many of whom remain asymptomatic. The incidence is much higher in sports-active individuals ranging from 15 to 47%. Unilateral pars defects are not associated with significant disability or the development of spondylolisthesis in the long term. Bilateral pars defects in the general population develop symptomatic progression in only a small percentage of subjects over the long term. MRI is gaining popularity as the investigation of choice in patients with suspected injuries of the PI. Conservative treatment is effective in the majority of instances, particularly for unilateral defects. Direct repair of the PI defect maybe indicated if conservative measures fail. Under such circumstances, successful outcome has been reported in 72–95% of patients.
Spondylolisthesis Spondylolisthesis is defined as the forward displacement of one vertebra with reference to the vertebra below. It was first described in 1792 by Herbinaux, a Belgian obstetrician who noted that occasionally a bony prominence was present in front of the sacrum and this was potentially implicated in problems with delivery [53]. Spondylolisthesis is reported with an incidence between 2 and 3% in Caucasian females and 6% in Caucasian males. Wiltse et al. proposed an anatomic classification of spondylolisthesis consisting of six types [3, 54, 55] (Table 4.5.2). Isthmic spondylolisthesis (Type II) was further subdivided into three subtypes: (A) Lytic type associated with a stress fracture of the pars; (B) Elongated type with an intact pars; (C) Associated with an acute fracture of the PI resulting from a major trauma. Marchetti and Bartolozzi subsequently developed a classification based on aetiology that differentiates between the various pathologic processes leading to
4.5 The Management of Spondylolysis and Spondylolisthesis Table 4.5.2 Wiltse anatomic classification of spondylolisthesis from Wiltse [54] (with permission) Type Subtypes I
Dysplastic
II
Isthmic
III
Degenerative
IV
Post-surgical
V
Post-traumatic
VI
Pathologic
IIA stress fracture of the pars IIB elongated but intact pars IIC acute fracture of the pars
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deformity, but the aetiologies and natural histories are clearly different, warranting different clinical expectation and subsequent treatment. For example, the natural history of highly dysplastic developmental spondylolisthesis is much more progressive than the acquired spondylolytic variety. A growth deficiency of the antero-superior sacrum may be an important factor in the progression of dysplastic spondylolistheisis.
Clinical Presentation
Table 4.5.3 Marchetti-Bartolozzi etiologic classification of spondylolisthesis from Marchetti et al. [56] (with permission) Acquired Developmental Traumatic Acute fracture Stress fracture
High dysplastic With lysis With elongation
Post-surgical Direct Indirect
Low dysplastic With lysis With elongation
Pathological Local Systemic Degenerative Primary Secondary
spondylolisthesis [56]. Two main categories are defined (Table 4.5.3). The first category is defined by primary developmental deficiencies at the lumbo-sacral junction resulting in various degrees of dysplasia. The second category, acquired spondylolisthesis, is as a result of traumatic, post-surgical, pathologic or degenerative causes. The acute traumatic, post-surgical, pathologic and degenerative types of spondylolisthesis are usually recognized as inherently different from the acquired types and treated accordingly. Unfortunately, developmental and spondylolytic (isthmic) spondylolisthesis in adolescents and young adults have often been grouped together. As a consequence, the natural histories of these processes have been obscured, resulting in confusion over the most appropriate treatment. The two pathologies share a similar initial radiographic
Most adults with isthmic spondylolisthesis are asymptomatic; indeed for patients past the third decade of life, it is unusual for spondylolisthesis to produce pain. Adolescent patients typically present with mechanical LBP with or without radiculopathy. Typically, the L5 nerve root is affected with pain on the outer aspect of the calf, and in extreme cases, with motor weakness of extensor hallucis longus. In the adolescent patient, there are often postural changes with hamstring tightness. In extreme cases, patients may present with a cauda equina syndrome. Spondylolytic spondylolisthesis is almost never associated with central spinal stenosis; in fact, the true antero-posterior diameter of the spinal canal is widened as the posterior elements remain behind [55]. True herniation of the disc at the level of the spondylolisthesis is rare. The neural foramen is narrowed by forward shift of L5 on S1, and the reduction in disc height leads to a so-called up-down stenosis. Degenerative spondylolisthesis is defined as an anterior displacement of one vertebral body on another in the presence of an intact neural arch. This condition may produce LBP as well as radicular or referred pain, and often produces symptoms of neurogenic claudication. The condition is 5–6 times more frequent in women and usually occurs after the age of 40 years. The L4–5 interspace is 6–10 times more frequently involved compared to adjacent levels. The intact neural arch results in spinal stenosis of the central canal. Hypertrophic changes of the facet joints and the disc are common. Degenerative changes in the superior articular process lead to nerve root canal stenosis, whereas those in the inferior articular process lead to central canal stenosis. The dural sac follows the slipped vertebra as it is held tightly by Hofmann’s ligaments.
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Investigations Standing antero-posterior and lateral radiographs of the lumbar spine are useful. The role of flexion/extension radiographs remains uncertain. MRI is very useful for assessing the degree of neural compromise and the adjacent inter-vertebral discs. Further studies including provocative lumbar discography, selective nerve root blocks, facet blocks and pars blocks may be useful in assessing the sources of pain.
Radiographic Measurements Meyerding proposed a grading system to describe the amount of forward translation of one vertebra on another [57]. For example, with an L5/S1 spondylolisthesis, translation of L5 is described relative to the superior surface of S1 as observed on a weight-bearing lateral radiograph of the lumbo-sacral junction. Grade 1 refers to a forward slippage between 1 and 25% (Fig. 4.5.2a), Grade 2 between 26 and 50%, Grade 3 between 51 and 75% and Grade 4 between 76 and 100%. Slippage greater than 100% is called spondyloptosis. Slips of Grade 1 and 2 are regarded as lowgrade slips and slips of Grade 3 or higher are regarded as high-grade slips. Sacral slope is defined as the angle between the sacral end-plate and the horizontal line and is normally between 40 and 60°. The inter-segmental angulation between L5 and S1 is lordotic with a lumbo-sacral angle ranging from −20 to −30°. The term pelvic incidence was introduced by Duval-Beaupére in 1992 [58].
a Fig. 4.5.2 (a) Lateral radiograph showing low-grade spondylolytic spondylolisthesis L4/L5 (Meyerding grade I) (From Freeman [65], with permission). (b) Lateral radiograph following instrumented postero-lateral fusion L4/5 combined with decompression. Note incidental partial reduction of slippage (From Freeman [65], with permission)
Pelvic incidence is defined as the angle subtended by a line drawn from the centre of the femoral head to the mid-point of the sacral end-plate and a line perpendicular to the centre of the sacral end-plate. The mean value in adults is 53° (range from 34 to 77°). Pelvic tilt is defined as the angle subtended by a vertical reference line originating from the centre of the femoral head and a line drawn from the centre of the femoral head to the mid-point of the sacral end-plate. There is a mathematical relationship between the pelvic incidence, sacral slope and pelvic tilt, in which the pelvic incidence will equal the sum of the sacral slope and pelvic tilt. A high pelvic incidence results in high shear forces at the lumbo-sacral junction and is associated with a higher degree of slippage. Labelle et al. suggest that pelvic morphology and spino-pelvic balance are abnormal in developmental spondylolisthesis and that these abnormalities should be quantified on lateral standing radiographs of the spine and pelvis as they have important implications for the evaluation and treatment of this pathological condition [59]. The posterior elements clearly play a key role in resisting the high shear forces at the lumbo-sacral junction. The loss of posterior restraint can result in spondylolisthesis. Whilst Hammerberg recognizes that spino-pelvic relationships have a role in the development and progression of spondylolisthesis, the exact nature is not yet clearly defined [60].
Treatment Conservative management includes trunk stability, strength training, analgesic medication, epidural steroid
b
4.5 The Management of Spondylolysis and Spondylolisthesis
injections and selective nerve root blocks. Indications for surgery include disabling LBP, persistent leg pain, neurological deficit, cauda equina syndrome and specifically, in children and adolescents, all subjects with a slip over 50% or documented progression from 25 to 50%. In adolescent and adult patients with low-grade spondylolisthesis, the recommended treatment has been an alar-transverse postero-lateral fusion with or without instrumentation (Fig. 4.5.2a, b). Consideration should be given to spinal decompression if central or lateral recess stenosis is symptomatic or if there is objective evidence of an L5 radiculopathy (e.g. weakness of extensor hallucis longus). In adult patients with wide disc spaces, consideration should be given to performing a posterior lumbar interbody fusion or transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion to increase the fusion rate by providing anterior column support. For those adult patients with a low-grade degenerative spondylolisthesis, it is often possible to simply perform a decompressive procedure without fusion, particularly if symptoms are limited to those of spinal stenosis. The treatment of patients with high-grade spondylolisthesis (Fig. 4.5.3a, b) is altogether much more controversial. The difference between a patient who is in spino-pelvic balance and the one who is unbalanced is an important consideration [59]. For those patients a
Fig. 4.5.3 (a) Anteroposterior radiograph showing high-grade spondyloytic spondylolisthesis of L5 on S1 (note Napolean hat sign) in a 45-year-old female. (b) Lateral radiograph of the same patient. Meyerding Grade IV spondylolisthesis. Pelvic incidence measured 86° and lumbar lordosis measured 90°. Her only symptoms were of bilateral L5 sensory radiculopathy
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with a well-balanced sagittal contour, an in situ circumferential fusion may provide the best long-term clinical and radiographic outcome [61]. The management of the unbalanced high-grade spondylolisthesis requires a reduction manoeuvre. These patients often have a high slip angle with an exaggerated lumbar lordosis. The goal of reduction is to decrease the slippage and more importantly the tilt of L5. This reduction can be achieved posteriorly by the use of posterior pedicle screws into L4, L5 and the sacrum. This procedure does, however, produce a lengthening of the trunk on correction of the deformity. This lengthening may be associated with an L5 radiculopathy in up to 20% of cases. It is important under these circumstances that a full and complete decompression of the nerve root is carried out before the reduction. Other complications include loss of reduction, pseudarthrosis and implant failure. Gaines et al. treated spondyloptosis by a two stage L5 vertebrectomy and reduction of L4 onto S1 in an attempt to shorten the spine [62]. Whilst 15 of 16 patients developed successful fusions, 5 out of 16 had a permanent motor deficit of L5. Wild et al. described a gradual reduction with an external fixator in 11 patients with symptomatic lumbar spondyloptosis, followed 10 days later by anterior and posterior fusion. No patient suffered a neurological deficit [63]. Doita et al. describe a successful case report using a similar b
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approach with decompression, slow reduction using an Ilizarov external fixator and subsequent interbody fusion, for a patient with lumbo-sacral spondyloptosis [64].
Summary Spondylolisthesis is a common low back condition with an incidence as high as 6% in Caucasian males. Spondylolisthesis has both developmental and acquired types and occurs as a consequence of the forward curvature of the lumbar segments coupled with the dissociation of the posterior elements and the vertebral body due to a defect in the PI. A large majority of patients remain asymptomatic. For those patients who become symptomatic with low-grade spondylolisthesis, surgical treatment commonly involves a decompression plus an instrumented postero-lateral fusion in situ. For those patients with high-grade spondylolisthesis, controversy surrounds surgical treatment, in particular, whether the deformity should be reduced or not? An assessment of the spino-pelvic balance should assist in this decision making.
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B. J. C. Freeman and U. K. Debnath 9. Ciullo JV, Jackson DW (1985) Pars interarticularis stress reaction, spondylolysis, and spondylolisthesis in gymnasts. Clin Sports Med 4:95–110 10. Kettlekamp DB, Wright DG (1971) Spondylolysis in Alaskan Eskimo. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 53:563–566 11. Merbs CF (2002) Asymmetrical spondylolysis. Am J Phys Anthropol 119:156–174 12. Sagi HC, Jarviss JG, Uhthoff HK (1998) Histomorphic analysis of the development of the pars interarticularis and its association with isthmic spondylolysis. Spine 1(23): 1635–1639 13. Stinson JT (1993) Spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis in the athlete. Clin Sports Med 12:517–528 14. Fredrickson BE, Baker D, McHolick WJ, Yuan HA, Lubicky JP (1984) The natural history of spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 66:699–707 15. Eisenstein SM, Ashton IK, Darby RS, AJ KP, Menage J, Evans H (1994) Innervation of the spondylolysis “ligament”. Spine 15:912–916 16. Schneiderman GA, McLain RF, Hambly MF, Nielsen SL (1995) The pars defect as a pain source. A histologic study. Spine 15:1761–1764 17. Bogduk N (1995) The anatomical basis for spinal pain syndromes. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 18:603–605 18. Peng B, Wu W, Hou S, Li P, Zhang C, Yang Y (2005) The pathogenesis of disogenic low back pain. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 87B:62–67 19. Moreton RD (1966) Spondylolysis. JAMA 195:671–674 20. Bellah RD, Summerville DA, Treves ST, Micheli LJ (1991) Low-back pain in adolescent athletes: detection of stress injury to the pars interarticularis with SPECT. Radiology 180:509–512 21. Collier BD, Johnson RP, Carrera GF, Meyer GA, Schwab JP, Flatley TJ, Isitman AT, Hellman RS, Zielonka JS, Knobel J (1985) Painful spondylolysis or spondylolisthesis studied by radiography and single-photon emission computed tomography. Radiology 154:207–211 22. Dutton JA, Hughes SP, Peters AM (2000) SPECT in the management of patients with back pain and spondylolysis. Clin Nucl Med 25:93–96 23. Elliott BC (2000) Back injuries and the fast bowler in cricket. J Sports Sci 18:983–991 24. Harvey CJ, Richenberg JL, Saifuddin A, Wolman RL (1998) The radiological investigation of lumbar spondylolysis. Clin Radiol 53:723–728. Review 25. Lusins JO, Elting JJ, Cicoria AD, Goldsmith SJ (1994) SPECT evaluation of lumbar spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis. Spine 19:608–612 26. Debnath UK, Freeman BJC, Dodaran MS, Kerslake RW, Webb JK (2003) When should SPECT imaging be performed in symptomatic posterior element lumbar stress injuries? Oral presentation British Orthopaedic Association Annual Meeting 2002, Published J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 85-B(Suppl II):168–169 27. Gregory PL, Batt ME, Kerslake RW, Scammell BE, Webb JK (2004) The value of combining SPECT and CT in the investigation of spondylolysis. Eur Spine J 13:503–509 28. Campbell RS, Grainger AJ, Hide IG, Papastefanou S, Greenough CG (2005) Juvenile spondylolysis: a comparative analysis of CT, SPECT and MRI. Skeletal Radiol 34: 63–73
4.5 The Management of Spondylolysis and Spondylolisthesis 29. Saifuddin A, White J, Tucker S, Taylor BA (1998) Orientation of lumbar pars defects: implications for radiological detection and surgical management. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 80:208–211 30. Udeshi UL, Reeves D (1999) Routine thin slice MRI effectively demonstrates the lumbar pars interarticularis. Clin Radiol 54:615–619 31. Hollenberg GM, Beattie PF, Meyers SP, Weinberg EP, Adams MJ (2002) Stress reactions of the lumbar pars interarticularis: the development of a new MRI classification system. Spine 27:181–186 32. Steiner ME, Micheli LJ (1985) Treatment of symptomatic spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis with the modified Boston brace. Spine 10:937–943 33. McCleary MD, Congeni JA (2007) Current concepts in the diagnosis and treatment of spondylolysis in young athletes. Curr Sports Med Rep 6:62–66. Review 34. Sys J, Michielsen J, Bracke P, Martens M, Verstreken J (2001) Non-operative treatment of active spondylolysis in elite athletes with normal X-ray findings: literature review and results of conservative treatment. Eur Spine J 10:498–504 35. Fuji K, Katoh S, Sairyo K, Ikata T, Yasui N (2004) Union of defects in the pars interarticularis of the lumbar spine in children and adolescents: the radiological outcome after conservative treatment. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 86:225–231 36. Debnath UK, Freeman BJ, Grevitt MP, Sithole J, Scammell BE, Webb JK (2007) Clinical outcome of symptomatic unilateral stress injuries of the lumbar pars interarticularis. Spine 32:995–1000 37. Standaert CJ, Herring SA (2007) Expert opinion and controversies in sports and musculoskeletal medicine: the diagnosis and treatment of spondylolysis in adolescent athletes. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 88:537–540 38. Suh PB, Esses SI, Kostuik JP (1991) Repair of pars interarticularis defect. The prognostic value of pars infiltration. Spine 16:S445–S448 39. Buck JE (1970) Direct repair of the defect in spondylolisthesis – preliminary report. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 52:432–438 40. Ivanic GM, Pink TP, Achatz W et al (2003) Direct stabilization of lumbar spondylolysis with a hook-screw. Mean 11-year follow-up period for 113 patients. Spine 28: 255–259 41. Morscher E, Gerber B, Fasel J (1984) Surgical treatment of spondylolisthesis by bone grafting and direct stabilization of spondylolysis by means of a hook screw. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 103:175–178 42. Nicol RO, Scott JH (1986) Lytic spondylolysis. Repair by wiring. Spine 11(10):1027–1030 43. Gillet P, Petit M (1999) Direct repair of spondylolysis without spondylolisthesis, using a rod-screw construct and bone grafting of the pars defect. Spine 24:1252–1256 44. Debnath UK, Freeman BJC, Gregory P, de la Harpe D, Kerslake RW, Webb JK (2003) Clinical outcome and return to sport after the surgical treatment of spondylolysis in young athlete. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 85:244–249 45. Hardcastle PH (1993) Repair of spondylolysis in young fast bowlers. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 75:398–402 46. Kakiuchi M (1997) Repair of the defect in spondylolysis. Durable fixation with pedicle screws and laminar hooks. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 79:818–825
145 47. Tokuhashi Y, Matsuzaki H (1996) Repair of defects in spondylolysis by segmental pedicular screw hook fixation. A preliminary report. Spine 21:2041–2045 48. Mihara H, Onari K, Cheung BC (2003) The biomechanical effects of spondylolysis and its treatment. Spine 28: 235–238 49. Deguchi M, Rapoff AJ, Zdeblick TA (1999) Biomechanical comparison of spondylolysis fixation techniques. Spine 24:328–333 50. Kip PC, Esses SI, Doherty BI, Alexander JW, Crawford MJ (1994) Biomechanical testing of pars defect repairs. Spine 19:2692–2697 51. Wu SS, Lee CH, Chen PQ (1999) Operative repair of symptomatic spondylolysis following a positive response to diagnostic pars injection. J Spinal Disord 12:10–16 52. Marnay T (2004) Montpellier, France, Personal communi cation 53. Herbinaux G (1792) Traite sur divers accouchement laborieux et sur les polypes de la matrice. Bruxells de Boubers 54. Wiltse LL (1962) Etiology of spondylolisthesis. J Bone Joint Surg [A] 44:539–559 55. Wiltse LL (1969) Spondylolisthesis: Classification and Etiology in: Symposium on the spine, The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons The C.V. Mosby Co, St. Louis, pp 143–168 56. Marchetti PG, Bartolozzi P (1997) Classification of Spondylolisthesis as a guideline for Treatment. In: Bridwell K.H and Dewald R.L (Eds) The Textbook of Spinal Surgery, 2nd Edn. Lippincott-Raven, Philadelphia, pp 1211–1254 57. Meyerding HW (1931) Spondylolisthesis. J Bone Joint Surg 13:39–43 58. Duval-Beaupére G, Schmidt C, Cosson P (1992) A barycentremetric study of the sagittal shape of the spine and pelvis: the conditions required for an economic standing position. Ann Biomed Eng 20:451–462 59. Labelle H, Roussouly P, Bérthonnaud E et al (2005) The importance of spino-pelvic balance in L5–S1 developmental spondylolisthesis: a review of pertinent radiologic measurements. Spine 30:S27–S34 60. Hammerberg KW (2005) New concepts on the pathogenesis and classification of spondylolisthesis. Spine 30:S4–S11 61. Helenius I, Lamberg T, Österman K (2006) Postero-lateral, anterior or circumferential fusion in situ for high-grade spondylolisthesis in young patients: a long-term evaluation using the Scoliosis Research Society questionnaire. Spine 31:190–196 62. Gaines R, Nichols W (1985) Treatment of spondyloptosis by two-stage L5 vertebrectomy and reduction of L4 onto S1. Spine 10:680–686 63. Wild A, Jäger M, Webb JK (2001) Staged reposition and fusion with external fixator in spondyloptosis. Z Orthop Ihre Grenzgeb 139:152–156 64. Doita M, Uno K, Maeno K et al (2008) Two-stage decompression, reduction and interbody fusion for lumbo-sacral spondyloptosis through a posterior approach using Ilizarov external fixation. J Neurosurg (Spine) 8:186–192 65. Freeman BJC (2005) The spine and spinal cord. In: Burnand KG (ed) The New Aird’s Companion in Surgical Studies, 3rd edn. Elsevier–Churchill Livingstone, China, pp 1014–1029
Transpedicular-Transdiscal-Transcorporal (TPDC)-Fixation
4.6
Max Aebi
Introduction Transsacral-transcorporal fixation has long been established mostly as anterior procedure with a fibular strut or direct screw fixation. René Louis in France and Marchetti in Italy have used this technique mostly in spondylolisthesis of L5/S1 [1, 2]. Either by a primarily posterior approach or by an anterior approach alone, they reduced the spondylolisthesis and fixed the lumbosacral junction with one or two screws, which are introduced in the midline from the anterior superior border of L5, obliquely down through the vertebral body of L5 and the disk space L5/S1, into the body of S1. The disk space L5/S1 has been fused with a tricortical bone graft. As an alternative, this technique has been used also together with a fibular strut. In this case, a K-wire has been positioned in the direction as described for the screw above, and a cannulated, large drill has been used to create a drill-hole, which could accept a fibular strut. Henry Bohlman and others have used the same principle of lumbosacral fixation, but through a posterior approach [3–8]. They prepared the midline of the spinal canal at the sacral level and drilled a hole from there obliquely up through the body of S1 through the disk space of L5/S1 into the body of L5, where a fibular strut could be positioned. There is obviously the risk that this strut can move back and would in this case compress the dural sac at the sacral level. As for the anterior approach, transabdominal as well as retroperitoneal approaches have been used with the established risks of injuries to the abdominal content or
M. Aebi Center for Orthopaedic Research, University of Bern, Stauffenbachstrasse 78, 3014, Bern, Switzerland e-mail:
[email protected] the big vessels in the area of the bifurcation of the aorta as well as the vena cava. Very few are known about possible complications by introducing a screw, respectively a K-wire, from the front in the neighborhood of the peritoneum as well as the big vessels, which may get into conflict with a screw or a K-wire. Several authors in the last years have presented fixation techniques at the lumbosacral junction by a posterior approach, while using the pedicle for the transfixation of the lumbosacral junction. Grob has published a series of cases with a direct screw fixation through the pedicles of S1, the disk space, and the vertebral body of L5 for spondylolysis or spondylolis thesis [9]. Bradford, Bartoluzzi, and others have used this transpedical-transdiscal-transcorporal fixation for pedicle screws in the context of major fixation constructs for the lumbosacral junction, inclusive of deformities of the lumbar and thoracic spine [3, 4, 8, 10]. The pedicle has long been used and understood as an access to the anterior vertebral body, and the idea that there is just one direction of positioning a screw in a pedicle has long been challenged by other technologies like transpedicular biopsies, transpedicular treatment of infections with irrigation systems, transpedicular bone grafting, as well as the whole concept of the vertebroplasty [11–22]. A pedicle screw cannot only vary its direction in the horizontal plane, meaning the screw can be more medialized or more lateralized, but the screw can also be varied in the direction of the sagittal plane, meaning that the screw can be guided upward cranially or downward caudally. Specifically, when the screw is introduced in the sagittal plane with an oblique upward direction, in case of a spondylolisthesis with a gliding of the superior vertebral body relative to the body below, a screw can easily traverse the intervertebral space and find good fixation in the vertebral body above, guaranteeing a sufficient fixation
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in situ of the lumbosacral junction. Equally, this technique can be applied in mostly degenerative spondylolisthesis of L4 over L5 or L3 over L4 in case there is a clear gliding of the superior vis-à-vis the inferior vertebral body, which guarantees that the screw enters into the superior vertebral body, once traversed the intervertebral space, not just in the anterior part of the vertebral body, but basically in the center allowing a sufficiently long path in the superior vertebral body. It also needs to be mentioned that Marchetti has used not only one screw from the front to fix the lumbosacral junction, but two parallel screws, thereby positioning a screw each in the left and the right half of the vertebral body [2]. We have used a transpedicular-transdiscal-transcorporal fixation-technique for the lumbosacral junction since the midnineties. We used this technique first in combination with a posterior pedicle fixation from L5 to S1 or from L4 to S1. In these cases, we put regular screws in the pedicle L5 and/or L4 and used the pedicle screw S1 as a transpedicular-transdiscal-transcorporal screw. In case of a pedicle fixation of the pedicle L5 as well as S1, we called this construct a delta-fixation (Fig. 4.6.1). Later, we started to use transpediculartransdiscal-transcorporal screws alone without a rodpedicle-screw-construct in cases where a purely in situ fixation of a spondylolisthesis was indicated and where specifically the disk space was narrowed (Fig. 4.6.2). For this case, we introduced cannulated 7.3 mm titanium cancellous short threaded screws, which were introduced over primarily set K-wires.
Fig. 4.6.1 Delta fixation
M. Aebi
Indication and Surgical Techniques The indication for a screw fixation only through a transpedicular-transdiscal-transcorporal fixation is a spondylolisthesis of at least grade I with a preferentially mostly collapsed intervertebral disk at the level of L5/S1. However, also L4/5 and L3/4 in degenerative spondylolisthesis can be approached in this way. The primary purpose of this fixation is an in situ-fixation and it is not the goal to reduce the spondylolisthesis, since if this is done, the screw fixation will not work. The path that is created in the transcorporal portion of the screw fixation is too short in a case where there is not at least a listhesis of grade I. In most adult patients with longstanding spondylolisthesis and a secondarily degenerated disk at this level, a reduction is not necessary. This surgery technique is an alternative to a more complex and more expensive technique, when using a posterior pedicle system in combination with a reduction and intervertebral cages to maintain or restore the intervertebral height at the lumbosacral junction. Such procedures may allow the restoration of the anatomical constellation at the lumbosacral junction. However, the outcome has not been proven to be better than a simple in situ-fusion, which has been practiced for many decades without internal fixation [23]. To put two transpedicular-transdiscal-transcorporal screws adds additional stability in a simple procedure to an in situ-fusion. The procedure can be done with a minimal exposure, including the opening of the spinal canal at the
4.6 Transpedicular-Transdiscal-Transcorporal (TPDC)-Fixation
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Fig. 4.6.2 Thirty-nine–yearsold female patient, back and root pain: Decompression and fixation and fusion
respective level to decompress the neurostructures, specifically in spondylolisthesis combined with spondylolysis and secondary hypertrophic nonunion and capsule tissue compromising the exit of the nerve roots in the foramen L5/S1 in case of a lumbosacral spondylolisthesis. This fixation is like a so-called “circumferential fixation,” since the transdiscal/transcorporal screws stabilize the anterior column and the transpedicular portion of the screw has its beginning in the posterior elements adding posterolateral fusion. In case of a significant instability at the level of the fixation, an additional stabilization, specifically if reduction is
done, can be achieved with a pedicle screw-rod-fixation as a frame (delta fixation) (Fig. 4.6.1). In case the disk space is completely destroyed and the vertebral body is basically sitting on the vertebral body or the sacrum below without any relevant disk material in between and with even some destructions of the end-plate, the screws may also act as compression-screws (short threaded cancellous screws). Care has to be taken, however, when adding compression, not to obstruct the foraminal exit for the roots, since compression leads to shortening, and therefore, sagittal decrease of the foraminal diameter.
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a
b
c
Fig. 4.6.3 Secondarily degenerated spondylolisthesis L5/S1 and spondylodesis (a) preop-imaging (b) CT - myelogram showing displacement of the tools S1 + L5 (c) postop-imaging
4.6 Transpedicular-Transdiscal-Transcorporal (TPDC)-Fixation
The following are the two surgical techniques which can be used: 1. Screw-only fixation, either with two screws or three screws (Fig. 4.6.3 and 4.6.4): The two-screw-fixation is a purely transpedicular-transdiscal-transcorporal fixation by introducing the screws over a K-wire into the pedicle S1, slightly oblique, upward and directed toward the midline (Fig. 4.6.2). The screws in a spondylolisthesis and in the usually present hypolordotic position can be introduced almost perpendicular to the table, what will end in an oblique traverse of the disk space. If the patient is in prone position and the lumbar spine is maintained in a more or less physiological alignment for this specific patient, the disk space L5/S1 or L4/5 is usually directed obliquely from cranial posterior to caudal anterior in relation to a perpendicular line to the table. This means that if a screw is positioned in a perpendicular line or slightly upward toward the head, this screw will traverse the disk space in an oblique fashion. Together with these two pedicle screws, an additional third screw can be introduced through the midline of the sacrum obliquely upward, identical as the pedicle screws (Fig. 4.6.4). For this purpose, the dural sac of the sacrum at the level of S1 needs to be uncovered and mobilized to the side, so the midline of the spinal canal in the sacrum anteriorly can be identified and a drillhole prepared to take up a screw starting at the posterior wall of the sacrum in the sacral spinal canal. This may add additional stability to the lumbosacral fixation. 2. The so-called delta-fixation: The delta-fixation is a transpedicular-transdiscaltranscorporal screw-fixation where this screw is part
Fig. 4.6.4 Thirty-threeyears-old female patient with previous posterior decompression and posterior fixation with VAS and consecutive screw breakage and nonunion
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of a pedicular rod-system. The transpedicular- transdiscal-transcorporal screw is used as the inferior anchorage of a construct, linking a transpedicular screw in L5 and/or L4 with a rod (Fig. 4.6.1). This is a very strong fixation that has been tested under experimental conditions in the laboratory [24]. From these tests, it could be assumed that a simple screw fixation through the pedicles is sufficient in low instability segments and in converting posteriorly the concept of the anterior transpedicular-transdiscal-transcorporal fixation, which has been practiced in many hundred cases and does not use the pedicle as a fixation-path, but the cancellous bone of the vertebral bodies, which adds more stability to a screw. There have also been constructs proposed, where a regular pedicle fixation in the sacrum and in the above lying vertebral bodies has been used and connected by rods, and in addition to this frame-type-fixation, a transsacral-transdiscaltranscorporal fixation from the back has been added. For the regular screw fixation with screws only, we have used in the past the cannulated 7.3 mm short threaded cancellous titanium screws (Synthes), which are introduced over a preset K-wire (Fig. 4.6.5). These screws are self-cutting; however, if the subchondral bone at the end plate, specifically of S1 but also at L5, is sclerosized, it is recommended to drill with the cannulated drill over the K-wire, at least through both end plates. If the bone, specifically of the L5 subchondral area, is very hard, the self-cutting screw may push the vertebral body anteriorly and increase the intervertebral space, which had naturally collapsed before through the degeneration of the disk. This distraction of the degenerated disk space is not wanted, since it creates a much higher stress on the screws if there is no anterior column support in the intervertebral space.
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screw or K-wire is introduced, is more precise than an insufficient X-ray. Once the screw fixation is done, a regular posterolateral spondylodesis of L5/S1, respectively of the fixed segment, is achieved. We do that usually with the bone, which has been removed through the decompression and has been milled in small corticocancellous chips, which are combined with tricalciumphosphate granula (Chronos®) to enhance the fusion mass.
Results Fig. 4.6.5 Cannulated 7.3 mm titanium cancellous short thread screws
Ideally, the fixation must be an in-situ-fixation. Once the K-wire is positioned in a good direction, it is easy to introduce the cannulated screws, which can be used with or without the washer to resist sinking of the heads over the pedicle of S1 or the vertebrae above (see Fig. 4.6.4). The utilization of the K-wire bares some risks. It can perforate the anterior wall of the vertebral body and injure the vessels in front of it. The perforation can happen while drilling the K-wire into the vertebral body of L5 or when introducing the screw, which may push the K-wire forward. Therefore, the introduction of the K-wire is achieved with continuous control through a lateral view of an image intensifier. The a/p-projection of the image intensifier is usually not used because most tables available do not allow a good quality image when images are done through the patient and the table. Furthermore, there are more precise ways to control the direction of the K-wire, respectively the screw, in the frontal and horizontal plane. For this purpose, in the context of the decompressive surgery, the pedicle S1 or the respective pedicle is identified precisely in its whole contour from the inner side, and the K-wire is angulated from the outside toward the inside into this visible pedicle, guaranteeing that the screw is heading toward the midline of the spine. At the same time, the pedicle can also be observed that it is not perforated cranially, which means that the screw or the K-wire is exiting too early and using space of the foramen L5/S1. The introduction of the K-wire, respectively the screw, under the vision of the pedicle in which the
We have used this technique until the end of 2005 in more than thirty-six patients. Screws only have been used in twenty-four patients. Out of these twenty-four, in three patients we used three screws, meaning two transpedicular screws plus a screw in the median position. In twelve patients, we have used a delta-fixation, where the transpedicular-transdiscal screw has been combined with a rod-pedicle-system for the body(s) above. We have used transpedicular-transdiscaltranscorporal screws 29 times at the level of L5/S1, 5 times at the level of L4/5, and twice at the level of L3/4. The average age of our patients was 44 years (13–67). The ratio between male and female patients was 21/15. There were complications, which were related directly to the screw, respectively K-wire introduction and more general complications. There was one deep femoral vein thrombosis in one case. There was one early infection after disconnection of the Hemovac-drain, which was unrecognized. Due to an image intensifier failure, there was one death because of a K-wire, which perforated the anterior L3 vertebral body wall unobserved in a fixation of a degenerative spondylolisthesis case at the level of L3/4 and damaged the vena cava with a consecutive rapid massive retroperitoneal noncontrolled bleeding. The infection has been controlled with wound debridement, irrigation, and antibiotics, and has healed without any residual consequences. There was one screw-breakage with a proven nonunion and there was another screw-breakage in a patient, who was painfree. In one case, there was a L4 root-weakness, which was not due to an irritation through the screw or K-wire, but possibly through a narrowing of the foramen by the compressive effect of the cancellous short-threaded screws. There were sensory disturbances in the S1 root
4.6 Transpedicular-Transdiscal-Transcorporal (TPDC)-Fixation
in a case, where a third median screw had been inserted. This screw has been removed and the sensory disturbances have almost completely recovered. Another patient had a L5-sensory disturbance with hyperesthetic sensations. There was no intraspinal or intraforaminal reason for this L5-root-symptomatology; however, the screw perforated the lateral wall of L5, although in the CT there was no direct contact between screw and the root. The screw has been removed and repositioned and the patient has gradually recovered from this sensory disturbance. The reason for this sensory disturbance is unexplained and may be due to irritation of some sympathetic or parasympathetic nerve fibers extravertebral. The overall satisfaction of the patients was more than 80% and the functional status allowed 28 patients to go back to their work or school. One patient is retired and five patients are on workman’s compensation. Out of them, three were patients with a delta-fixation. Concerning pain, at least 1 year postoperatively, one patient was unchanged and twenty-two patients had a significant better VAS. Twenty-one patients who have been treated with screws only and eight out of twelve patients with a delta fixation had a significantly better VAS than preoperatively.
Discussion The transpedicular-transdiscal-transcorporal screw fixation is an alternative stabilization technique for a unisegmental fusion in cases with a spondylolisthesis of at least grade I, when the purpose is basically fixation in situ, but also in combination with a unisegmental or longer pedicle screw-rod fixation. Through the translation anteriorly, the path of a screw through the disk space from the vertebra below to the vertebra above is lengthened, thereby allowing sufficient anchorage of the screw in the vertebra below and the vertebra above. In opposite to the anterior screw fixation of a spondylolisthesis or a fixation with a fibular strut, the anchorage of the fixation is partially in the pedicle, which is a better bed for a screw fixation, therefore undoubtedly enhancing stability. This fixation-technique is not appropriate in a highly unstable spondylolisthesis, but in patients where an in-situ-fixation may enhance fusion. In more unstable conditions, it is recommended to combine this screw-fixation with a classical posterior
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rod-screw-fixation. Nevertheless, the screw, which traverses the discal space, allows an anterior column fixation. The experience up to now has demonstrated essentially four issues, which need to be considered carefully while doing this surgery. 1. Disk space distraction must be avoided while inserting the screws over the K wires. The end plates may be sclerosized to a degree that even the self-cutting screw may push the vertebral body in front of the tip instead of biting through. Therefore, it is recommended to drill the end plates of the two adjacent vertebraes. The K-wire as guide for the screw has two inherent risks. The insertion of the screw over the K-wire may push it anteriorly, if there is a small angulation between the K-wire and the cannulated screws. The K-wire may perforate in front and injure a vessel. Also, the insertion of the K-wire has the risk to perforate the anterior cortex and injure the adjacent, specifically veins with fatal consequences, as demonstrated in one case. The danger is that the K-wire may wrap the vessel, when inserted with a drill. To minimize this risk, we recommend that while using a K-wire, it should be tapped carefully once it is in the vertebral body and has passed the end-plates. Due to the fatal complication in one case, we try whenever possible not to use a K-wire anymore, but to open the pedicle as usual with an awl and to perforate the end-plates equally with the awl. 2. The image intensifier needs to be used in the lateral projection. However, the a/p-projection can better be controlled by identifying under direct vision the medial wall of the pedicle S1 in case of a S1/L5 screw fixation with an instrument and angulating the direction of the awl or K-wire at least 15° toward the midline. Through the identification of the pedicle, we make sure that the screw does not perforate the pedicle medially or cranially and yet converges to the midline. 3. The screw may break, specifically if the disk space is wide and there is a relevant bending moment on the screw. The screw has the tendency to break close to the transition from the threaded part to the shaft of the screw. To avoid this problem, regular 7 mm pedicle screws out of the pedicle system can be used equally and since they are fully threaded, they avoid compression between the two vertebral bodies. 4. The compression of two vertebral bodies against each other through a compression-screw-concept
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(short threaded cancellous screw) may lead to a narrowing of the root canal or the foraminal exit in the sagittal plain with secondary irritation of the root L5 in case of a fixation of S1/L5. When a screw fixation has been achieved, it is recommended to explore the foramen with an appropriate instrument to make sure that the space is sufficient for the root. This technique offers, in most cases, a sufficient fixation to enhance fusion in situ in case of spondylolisthesis, but for significantly less costs than a regular pedicular system with rod connections.
References 1. Louis R, Maresca C (1976) Les arthrodèses stables de la charnière lombosacrée (70 cas). Rev Chir Orthop (Suppl 2): 70–79 2. Marchetti PG, Binazzi R, Briccoli A, Vaccari V, Borelli P, De Zerbi M, Manca A, Landi S (1994) The surgical treatment of spondylolisthesis. Chir Organi Mov 79(1):85–91 3. Bartolozzi P, Sandri A, Cassini M, Ricci M (2003) Onestage posterior decompression-stabilization and trans-sacral Interbody fusion after partial reduction for severe L5–S1 spondylolisthesis. Spine 28(11):1135–1141 4. Boachi-Adjei O, Do T, Rawlins BA (2002) Partial lumbosacral kyphosis, reduction, decompression and posterior lumbosacral transfixation in high grade isthmic spondylolisthesis: clinical and radiographic results in six patients. Spine 27(6):E161–E168 5. Bohlmann HH, Cook SS (1982) One-stage decompression and posterolateral and interbody fusion for lumbosacral spondyloptosis through a posterior approach. Report on two cases. J Bone Joint Surg Am 64:415–418 6. Hanson DS, Bridwell KH, Rhee JM, Lenke LG (2002) Dowel fibular strut grafts for high-grade dysplastic isthmic spondylosisthesis. Spine 27(18):1982–1988 7. Smith MD, Bohlmann HH (1990) Spondylolisthesis treated by a single-stage operation combining decompression with in situ posterolateral and anterior fusion. An analysis of eleven patients who had long-term follow-up. J. Bone Joint Surg Am 72(3):415–421 8. Smith JA, Deviren V, Berven S, Kleinstueck F, Bradford DS (2001) Clinical outcome of trans-sacral interbody fusion after partial reduction for high grade L5/S1 spondylolisthesis. Spine 26(20):227–2234 9. Grob D, Humke T, Dvorak J (1996) Direct pediculo-body fixation in cases of spondylolisthesis with advanced intervertebral disc degeneration. Eur Spine J 5(4):281–285
M. Aebi 10. Hu SS, Bradford DS, Transfeldt EE, Cohen M (1996) Reduction of high-grade spondylolisthesis using Edwards instrumentation. Spine 21(3):367–371 11. Crow WN, Borowski AM, Hadjipavlou AG, Walser EM et al (1998) Percutaneous transpedicular automated nucleotomy for debridement of infected discs. J Vasc Interv Radiol 9:161–165 12. Daniaux H, Seykora P, Genelin A, Lang T, Kathrein A (1991) Application of posterior plating and modifications in thoracolumbar spine injuries. Indication, techniques and results. Spine 16(Suppl 3):S125–S133 13. Hadjipavlou AG, Arya S, Crow WN et al (1996) Percutaneous transpedicular biopsy of the spine. J Interv Radiol 11: 103–108 14. Hadjipavlou AG, Crow WN, Borowski A, Mader JP, Adesokan A, Jensen RE (1998) Percutaneous transpedicular discectomy and drainage in pyogenic spondylodiscitis. Am J Orth 27:188–197 15. Hadjipavlou AG, Katonis PK, Gaitanis IN, Muffoletto AJ, Tzermiadianos MN, Crow W (2004) Percutaneous transpedicular discectomy and drainage in pyogenic spondylodiscitis. Eur Spine J 13:707–713 16. Heini PF, Orler R (2004) Kyphoplasty for treatment of osteoporotic vertebral fractures. Eur Spine J 13(3):184–192 17. Jelinek JS, Kransdorf MJ, Gray R et al (1996) Percutaneous transpedicular biopsy of vertebral body lesions. Spine 21(17): 2035–2040 18. Kaya RA, Aydin Y (2004) Modified transpedicular approach for the surgical treatment of severe thoracolumbar or lumbar burst fractures. Spine J 4(2):208–217 19. Leferink VJM, Zimmermann KW, Veldhuis EFM, tenVergert EM, tenDuis HJ (2001) Thoracolumbar spinal fractures: radiological results of transpedicular fixation combined with transpedicular cancellous bone graft and posterior fusion in 183 patients. Eur Spine J 10(6):517–523 20. Murrey DB, Brigham CD, Kiebzak GM, Finger F, Chewning SJ (2002) Transpedicular decompression and pedicle subtraction osteotomy (eggshell procedure): a retrospective review of 59 patients. Spine 27(21):2338–2345 21. Stringham DR, Hadjipavlou A, Dzioba RB, Lander P (1994) Percutaneous transpedicular biopsy of the spine. Spine 19: 1985–1991 22. Ward JC, Jeanneret B, Oehlschlegel C, Magerl F (1996) The value of percutaneous transpedicular vertebral bone biopsies for histologic examination. Results of an experimental histopathologic study comparing two biopsy needles. Spine 21(21):2484–2490 23. Kuntz KM, Snider RK, Weinstein JN, Pope MH, Katz JN (2000) Cost-effectiveness of fusion with and without instrumentation for patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis and spinal stenosis. Spine 24(9):1132–1139 24. Steffen T (2004) Unpublished Data from the Orthopaedic Research Lab, McGill University, Montreal, Canada: Personal Communication
Facet Problems: A Surgical Indication?
4.7
F. Pellisé
The apophyseal facet joints are diarthrodial joints located in the posterior aspect of the functional spinal unit. Together with the intervertebral disc, they constitute a three-joint complex providing motion, stability and protection to the neural structures. Facet problems are often a surgical indication, mainly after acute trauma with facet dislocation. However, in the absence of “red flags”, the surgical indications are less clear [1]. Historically, degenerated lumbar facet joints have been implicated in low back pain (LBP) syndromes [3, 4].
review of existing grading systems concludes that morphological changes occurring during the degeneration of the lumbar facet joints are better evaluated and graded with CT and MRI [12]. Among more than 12 reported grading systems, only three met acceptable criteria for reliability that was recommended. The Weishaupt system provides the best intra- and interobserver reliability [12]. Although the clinical significance of facet joint degeneration is still under debate, facets are often related to back pain and radicular symptoms.
Facet Joint Degeneration As occurs with any other synovial joint, facets undergo degenerative changes that are characteristic of osteo arthritis [12]. According to Kirkaldy-Willis, these changes appear simultaneously in the facets and intervertebral disc, progressively modifying the morphology of the functional spine unit [14]. However, the degenerative process is not necessarily a pathological process, since degeneration of the spine is almost universal in the asymptomatic adult population [5]. The morphological changes occurring at the zygapophyseal lumbar facet joints during degeneration have been described using various imaging techniques, such as plain radiography, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In addition, many systems to grade lumbar facet joint degeneration are accessible from the MEDLINE database. A recent
F. Pellisé Unitat de Cirugia del Raquis Vall d’Hebron, Hospital Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona, Vall d’Hebron 119–129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain e-mail:
[email protected] Low Back Pain A large part of the adult population will have LBP at some stage in life. In a great majority of cases, the pain source cannot be identified [1].
Diagnosis For some authors, lumbar facet joint deterioration is a significant contributor to LBP [18]. The prevalence of facet joint pain varies considerably according to the diagnostic procedure used. Its prevalence as a cause of LBP has been reported to range from 7.7 to 75% using single facet joint diagnostic anaesthesia, and from 15 to 40% using double facet joint anaesthesia and saline injections as control [18]. Jackson et al (1988 Volvo Award in Clinical Sciences) evaluated 454 patients with facet joint injections [11]. All had the chief complaint of LBP, normal neurological examinations and no signs of root tension. Three hundred and ninety completed the protocol, which included lumbar motion
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pain assessment before and after facet injection. A total of 127 variables were studied. There were 229 males and 161 females with a median age of 38. Facet joint arthrograms were performed prior to intra-articular injection of a local anaesthetic and cortisone. Initial mean pain relief was only 29%. Variables correlating significantly with greater post-injection pain relief were older age, prior history of LBP, normal gait, maximum pain on extension following forward flexion in the standing position, an absence of leg pain, muscle spasm and aggravation of pain on Valsalva. The greatest pain relief immediately after injection was seen with lumbar extension and rotation, movements reported to stress the facet joints or aggravate pain of facet joint origin. Patients with greater pain on lumbar extension and rotation as a group, however, did not experience more pain relief. From the results of this study, the authors were not able to identify clinical facet joint syndromes or predict patients responding better to this procedure. They concluded that the facet joints were not commonly the single or primary source of LBP in the great majority (more than 90%) of patients studied [11]. Diagnosis based on double anaesthesia and saline control injections is an expensive and time-consuming procedure. However, there is no single clinical parameter indicating that LBP results from facet joints. To determine clinical criteria that could identify patients with painful facet joints, Revel et al designed a prospective randomized study to compare the efficacy of facet joint injection with lidocaine or saline in two groups of patients with LBP, with and without clinical criteria that were determined in a previous study to implicate the facet joint as the primary source of pain [18]. A group of 43 patients with LBP who met at least five criteria were compared with 37 patients who met fewer criteria. Patients randomly received an injection of either lidocaine or saline into the lower facet joints. The result was considered positive if more than 75% pain relief was determined by a visual analogue scale. The patient, the radiologist and the investigator were blinded. There was a significant interaction between clinical group and injection effect (p > 0.003). The presence of five of seven variables (age greater than 65 years and pain that is not exacerbated by coughing, hyperextension, forward flexion, rising from flexion or extension-rotation and well-relieved by recumbence), always including the last item, distinguished 92% of patients responding to lidocaine injection and 80% of non-responders in the lidocaine group [18].
F. Pellisé
In a recent study, Hancock et al carried out a systematic review of tests to identify the disc, sacroiliac joint or facet joint as the source of LBP [10]. The authors retrieved eight studies of moderate quality dealing with diagnostic testing for facet joint pain. The index tests were considered informative when positive likelihood ratios were >2 and/or negative likelihood ratios 10 levels) such as those for scoliosis or kyphosis, surgery of longer duration (>6 h), and tumor resections. In addition, multiple osteotomies, pedicle subtraction osteotomy, eggshell, or other types of resections expose extensive cancellous bony surface areas and have potential for significant bleeding. It is worth noting that pediatric spine cases differ from adult spine cases. Pediatric periosteum strips smoothly from the bone at the time of surgery. Pediatric patients have more flexible curves, which may allow shorter fusions. Adults have stiffer curves which may require inclusion of longer segments, including compensatory curves. These stiffer curves may require anterior release and fusion and/or multiple osteotomies to enable curve correction; Adult bones may be more osteoporotic and have increased bleeding from their surfaces. Because adult patients are more likely to have spinal stenosis as a component of their indication for surgery, they often require spinal decompression with the potential for epidural bleeding. Pseudoarthrosis is more unusual in
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pediatric patients, except those with neurofibromatosis, connective tissue conditions, and neuromuscular conditions such as meningomyelocele. The fusion rate is lower in adults, thus it is more common to require revision surgery which has greater potential for blood loss. While not actually reducing surgical bleeding, blood conservation methods, such as cell salvage and preoperative erythropoietin, can decrease the need for homologous blood transfusions [7–9]. Predonation of autologous blood combined with intraoperative use of cell saver may not both be necessary unless significant blood loss (>2,000 mL) occurs [10, 11]. During surgery, there are several options that the surgeon and the anesthesiologist can use to decrease the potential for blood loss. These can be divided into local methods, which can be utilized by the surgeon, and systemic methods, such as hemodilution, controlled hypotension, proper use of blood products, and antifibrinolytics. Clearly, the surgeon should always perform careful hemostasis, use the proper tissue planes for exposure, and apply cautery judiciously, either monopolar or bipolar as appropriate. Local agents such as gelfoam, surgical, and oxycel, essentially different formulations of cellulose or gelatin, can be used to improve local hemostasis when applied to bleeding surfaces such as muscle or bone, which is not easily cauterized. Oftentimes, these substances are mixed with thrombin, a component of the clotting cascade, for additional efficacy. Application of these substances combined with direct pressure, i.e., packing off of that area of the surgical field, can decrease local oozing. Bone wax can be applied to specific bony bleeding sites. However, this may interfere with bone healing and should be used in limited areas. There are occasions where it may be appropriate to complete a major operation at a second stage. There may be a threshold beyond which the patient may not tolerate additional blood loss, or where a patient who is a Jehovah’s witness and will not accept blood transfusion will become significantly compromised. If the rate of bleeding is increasing steadily, suggesting a developing or progressive coagulopathy, particularly if the surgeon anticipates more than 1–2 h of additional surgery, it may be safer to complete the surgery at a later date. This may expose the patient to a potentially higher risk of infection or longer hospitalization, but massive blood loss due to a coagulopathy or even disseminated intravascular coagulation, carries with it potentially greater risks as has been noted above.
S. S. Hu and J. A. Lieberman
Controlled hypotension has been used successfully to decrease blood loss during spine surgery [9]. It has been demonstrated that decreasing the venous pressure will result in a decrease of the intraosseous pressure, which will decrease the surgical bleeding [12]. A variety of agents have been used to induce hypotension, including anesthetics or vasoactive agents. Many appear to be effective in reducing bleeding, and selection may be based on other effects of these drugs. Its use is limited if the patient has vascular disease, cardiac disease, or poorly managed hypertension. It may be risky in patients who have a compromised spinal cord, either with a spinal cord injury or myelopathy, since spinal cord perfusion could be compromised with hypotension. Where appropriate, nitroglycerin is more effective than halothane for inducing controlled hypotension. It is worth noting that Tsuji and colleagues (2001) studied patients undergoing cervical laminaplasty for myelopathy and found that the use of PGE1 for inducing hypotension appeared to improve the pulsatility index, as a measure of blood flow to the anterior spinal artery. Isovolemic hemodilution is the drawing off of a pint or two of blood with subsequent maintenance of intravascular volume with colloid and crystalloid. While not reducing blood loss, the intraoperative bleeding will be of more dilute blood, decreasing the need for intraoperative blood transfusion [9, 13]. Some concern was raised that hemodilution might lead to early coagulopathy, however, no effect on global coagulation factors could be measured in one carefully designed study to examine this concern [14]. It is essential that appropriate monitoring of the hematocrit and clotting function occurs in the operating room. Dilution coagulopathy may result from the loss of clotting factors, platelets, or fibrinogen. Judicious use of laboratory studies of clotting factor levels is essential during periods of significant blood loss. Anticipation of blood products needs is important, as there may be a delay in thawing frozen plasma or pooling platelets. There are several antifibrinolytics that stabilize the initial fibrin clot, which have been used with some success in orthopedic and spine patients. These include Aprotinin, transexamic acid (TXA), and e-aminocaproic acid. Aprotinin, a serine protease inhibitor that acts as an antifibrinolytic as well as a platelet membrane stabilizer, has been shown in several prospective studies, including some randomized and blinded, to decrease blood loss in
4.10 Blood Loss Management in Major Spine Surgery
spine surgery as well as other orthopedic cases in which high blood loss can be expected (tumor surgery, revision joint replacement) [15–18]. Despite the risk of anaphylaxis, if the patient has had a repeat exposure [19], its effectiveness in Level I trials seemed clear enough that it was recommended for use in complex cases in a Current Concepts review in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery [20]. Recently, extensive safety concerns have been raised, both for cardiac cases [21] as well as a recent study [22], where renal failure occurred in several patients who received Aprotinin during their spine surgery. This prospective, randomized trial found four patients receiving Aprotinin developed renal failure requiring dialysis, compared to only one patient in the control group, whose renal failure probably was due to an overdose of gentamycin . These concerns led to a safety review by the FDA [23], begun in Oct 2007, with the manufacturing company agreeing to stop marketing the drug at the FDA’s request shortly thereafter. e-aminocaproic acid, or amicar, was used in adult deformity patients [18]. This study compared amicar and Aprotinin in adult deformity patients who were undergoing combined anterior and posterior spinal fusion. Decreased blood loss was found in the Aprotinin and amicar groups compared to controls. TXA, a synthesized form of lysine, prevents enzymes from breaking down blood clots and has been studied in spine surgery [24]. This study found that TXA decreased the blood loss and transfusion requirements in spinal fusions for patients with Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy, a patient population which often has extensive surgical blood loss [25]. TXA can reduce the transfusion needs for PSF in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients. Although not studied specifically in spine cases, it has also been shown that topical TXA may decrease the surgical EBL by up to 50%, apparently by increasing the D-dimer and PAP locally where it is applied [26], Buffery [27] published a meta-analysis looking at the use of these antifibrinolytics in orthopedic and spine surgeries. The majority of the studies were in total hip replacement and total knee replacement surgeries. Their analysis resulted in favor of TXA and Aprotinin as compared to controls. There were too few studies using amicar to be conclusive of its efficacy. They found no difference for any of these agents in the incidence of thromboembolic events vs. controls. Recombinant activated factor VII, a component of the coagulation cascade used originally for hemophiliac patients, is finding more recent application in other
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situations where control of bleeding is of concern. This includes trauma patients, those with intracerebral bleeding and potentially high blood loss surgeries. A feasibility and safety study in spine surgery patients was recently published [28]. This involved patients in whom significant blood loss was anticipated [29] (greater than three level fusions), and in whom there were no risk factors for thrombosis. A unique study design was utilized. Patients were randomized to receive the study drug or placebo once a blood loss trigger of 10% of the patient’s blood volume was reached and an additional 10% or more blood loss was anticipated. The lowest dose, at 30 mg/kg, was tested first for safety, with the higher doses of 60 and 90 mg not tested until safety was established at the prior dose. Although there was no difference between blood loss in the different treatment groups, when adjusting for the a priori factors of the patient’s blood volume and the number of segments of fusion, use of rFVIIa resulted in a significant difference in mean blood loss and total transfusion. The lowest dose of 30 mg was as effective as the other doses. Adverse effects were similar between the study and control groups; there was one patient who received the study drug who suffered a fatal stroke and MI. This patient had risk factors, including a long smoking history and hypertension, as well as periods of intraoperative hypotension, the former of which should have excluded him from entry into the study. Weighing of risk-benefit ratios for the use of these drugs and techniques should always be considered when using any of these options described. Cost benefit ratios are increasingly coming to the attention and responsibility of the surgeons and anesthesiologists caring for patients (Table 4.10.1). This must be balanced by the cost of blood products: packed cells (leuko reduced) $247, plateletpheresis (leuko reduced) $603, fresh frozen plasma ($74), cryoprecipitate $74 each, and $370 for pooled crypt, Table 4.10.1 Summarizes the cost for a typical dosing of the agents discussed at one institution Dosage Cost Aprotinin
1 m KIU + 0.25 m KIU/h × 6 h surgery
$475.01
Tranexemic acid
10 mg/kg 70 kg patient, + 10 mg/kg-h
$185.20
Amicar
5 g + 15 mg/kg-h
$1.90
rfVIIa
30 mcg × 70 kg × 3 doses
$ 6,912
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which does not include the anesthesia or nursing costs. It is also important to consider the cost of treating patients who have a transfusion reaction, develop TRALI, or adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), or may have a higher infection risk as a result of receiving blood products. Clearly, major spine surgery can incur significant intraoperative blood loss. Surgeons and anesthesiologists can work together using a variety of techniques and agents to decrease this blood loss. The safety and efficacy profile of antifibrinolytics, plus rfVIIa, is promising for use in spine patients, although requires continued study and reporting. Decreasing blood loss and transfusion requirements during major spine surgery should help reduce the overall complication rate in these patients.
References 1. Carson JL, Altman DG, Duff A, Noveck H, Weinsstein MP, Sonnerberg FA, Hudson JI, Provenzano G (1999) Transfusion complications: risk of bacterial infection associated with allogenic blood transfusion among patients undergoing hip fracture repair. Transfusion 39:694–701 2. Innerhofer P, Wallexzek L, Luz G, Hobisch-Hagen P, Benzer A, Stockl B, Hessenberger G, Nussbaumer W, Schoberberger W (1999) Transfusion complications: transfusion of Buffy coatdepleted blood components and risk of postoperative infection in orthopedic patients. Transfusion 39:625–631 3. Kopko PM, Marshall CS, Mackenzie MR, Holland PV, Popovsky MA (2002) Transfusion- related acute lung injury: report of a clinical look back investigation report of a clinical look- back investigation. J Am Med Assoc 287:15 4. Nahtomi-Shick O, Kostuik J, Winters B, Breder C, Sieber A, Sieber F (2001) Does intraoperative fluid management in spine surgery predict intensive care unit length of stay. J Clin Anesth 13:208–212 5. Zheng F, Cammisa F, Sandhu H, Girardi F, Khan S (2002) Factors predicting hospital stay, operative time, blood loss, and transfusion in patients undergoing revision posterior lumbar spine decompression fusion and segmental instrumentation. Spine 27(8):818–824 6. Lee LA, Roth S, Posner KL, Cheney FW, Caplan RA, Newman NJ, Domino KB (2006) The American society of anesthesiologist postoperative visual loss registry. Anesthesi ology 105:652–659 7. Goodnough LT, Rudnick S, Price T, Ballas S, Collins M, Crowley J, Kosmin M, Kruskall M, Lenes B, Menitove J, Silberstein L, Smith K, Wallas C, Abels R, Von Tress M (1989) Increase preoperative collection of autologous blood with recombinant human erythropoietin therapy. N Engl J Med 321(17):1163–1168 8. Goodnough LT, Marcus RE (1992) Effect of autological blood donation in patient undergoing elective spine surgery. Spine 17(2):172–174
S. S. Hu and J. A. Lieberman 9. Hur S, Huizenga B, Major M (1992) Acute normovolemic hemodilution combined with hypotensive anesthesia and other. Spine 17(8):867–873 10. Siller T, Dickson J, Erwin W (1996) Efficacy and cost consideration of intraoperative autologous transfusion in spina fusion for idiopathic scoliosis with pre-deposited blood. Spine 21(7):848–852 11. Simpson M, Georgopoulos G, Eilert R (1993) Intraoperative blood salvage in children and young adults undergoing spinal surgery with pre-deposited autologous blood: efficacy and cost effectiveness. J Pediatr Orthop 13:777–780 12. Kakiuchi M (2002) Intraoperative blood loss during cervical laminoplasty correlates with the vertebral intraosseous pressure. J Bone Joint Surg (BR) 84-B(4):518–520 13. Copley LA, Stephens RB, Safavi FZ, Newton PO (1999) Hemodilution as a method to reduce transfusion requirements in adolescent spine fusion surgery. Spine 24(3): 219–222 14. Hobish-Hagen P, Wirletner B, Mair J, Luz G, Innerhofer P, Frischhut B, Ulmer H, Schobersberger W (1999) Conse quences of acute normovolaemic hemodilution on hemostasis during major orthopaedic surgery. Br J Anesth 82(4):503–509 15. Cole J, Murray D, Snider R, Bassett G, Bridwell K, Lenke L (2003) Aprotinin reduced blood loss during spinal surgery in children. Spine 28(21):2482–2485 16. Murkin JM, Shannon NA, Bourne RB, Rorabeck CH, Cruickshank M, Wylie G (1995) Anesth Analg 80:343–348 17. Samama CM (2004) Aprotinin and major orthopedic surgery. Eur Spine J 13-S(1):S56–S61 18. Urban M, Beckman J, Gordon M, Urquhart B, BoachieAdjei O (2001) The efficacy of antifibrinolytic in the reduction of blood loss during complex adult reconstructive spine surgery. Spine 26(10):1152–1157 19. Dietrich W, Spath P, Zuhisdorf M, Dailchau H, Kirchhoff PG, Kuppe H, Preiss D, Mayer G (2001) Anaphylactic reactions to aprotinin re-exposure in cardiac surgery. Anesthesiology 95:64–71 20. Kokoszka A, Kuflik P, Bitan F, Casden A, Neuwirth M (2005) Evidence based review of the role of aprotinin in blood conservation during orthopaedic surgery. J Bone Joint Surg 87:1129–1136 21. Royston D, Van Haaften N, De Vooght P (2007) Aprotinin; friend or foe? A review of recent medical literature. Eur J Anaesthesiol 24:6–14 22. Okubadejo GO, Bridwell K, Lenke L, Buchowski JM, Fang D, Baldus C, Nielson C, Lee C (2007) Aprotinin may decrease blood loss in complex adult spinal deformity surgery but it may also increase the risk of acute renal failure. Spine 32(20):2265–2271 23. Food and Drug Administration, Regulatory administration November 26, 2007 http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/ NEW01738.html. Aprotinin: FDA Informs of Ongoing Safety Review FDA Website 2007 24. Shapiro F, Zurakoski D, Sethna N (2007) Tranexamic acid diminishes intraoperative blood loss and transfusion in spinal fusion for duchenne muscular dystrophy scoliosis. Spine 32(20):2278–2283 25. Neilipovitz DT, Murto K, Hall L, Barrowman NJ, Splinter WM (2001) A randomized trial of tranexamic acid to reduce blood transfusion for scoliosis surgery. Anesth Analg 93: 82–87
4.10 Blood Loss Management in Major Spine Surgery 26. Krohn CD, Sorensen R, Lange JE, Riise R, Bjornsen S, Brosstd F (2003) Tranexamic acid given into the wound reduces postoperative blood loss by half in major orthopaedic surgery. Eur J Surg Suppl 588:57–61 27. Zufferey P, Merquiol F, Laporte S, Decousus H, Mismette P, Auboyer C, Samama CM, Molliex S (2006) Do antifibrinolytics reduce allogenic blood transfusion in orthopedic surgery? Anesthesiology 105(5):1034–1046
173 28. Saches B, Delacy D, Green J, Graham S, Ramsay J, Kreisler N, Kruse P, Khutoryansky N, Hu S (2007) Recombinant activated factor VII in spinal surgery a multicenter, randomized, double blind, placebo controlled dose escalation trial. Spine 32(21):2285–2293 29. Johnson R, Murphy M, Miller M (1989) Fusion and transfusion: an analysis of blood loss and autogous replacement during lumbar fusion. Spine 14(4):358–362
Part Surgical Treatment: Other Technologies
V
How Disc Replacement Fits in the Treatment Algorithm for Degenerative Disc Disease: Refining Indications for Disc Replacement
5.1
Richard D. Guyer and Donna D. Ohnmeiss
Introduction Today, we have many surgical options for treating symptomatic degenerative disc disease for those patients who fail adequate non-operative treatment. Though many of these technologies are new, they need to pass the test of time with positive objective outcome measures. We know from the Kirkaldy-Willis’ degenerative cascade that there are many stages of degenerative disc disease. These range from the earliest stages of annular tears to the full-blown end stage degenerative disc disease with marked disc space collapse. So where does disc replacement fit in the treat algorithm? Along with the gross physical changes of the disc described in the degenerative cascade, in recent years, a greater knowledge of the physiological changes within the disc and related pain mechanisms has continued to develop. At the same time, the number of treatment options is escalating. Years ago, the treatment for degenerative disc pain was limited to discectomy, anterior fusion with iliac crest autograft or allograft, posterior fusion typically performed with autograft, and about the only option was with or without pedicle screw system. Now the number of options and techniques is much greater. While the new technologies are exciting, they also bring new challenges. Each has to be evaluated according to rigorous protocol to determine its effectiveness. This may be particularly true of “add-on” devices such as anterior lumbar plates, image-guided surgery, nucleus
R. D. Guyer (*) Texas Back Institute, 6020 West Parker Rd. 200, Plano, TX 75093, USA e-mail:
[email protected] replacements or disc implants following routine discectomy. The real key to optimizing spine care likely lies in determining in which subgroups of patients are specific devices beneficial, or not, based on a firm understanding of the individual patient’s problem. Total disc replacement has a place in this continuum of painful disc degeneration and surgical options. As with any non-emergent spinal problem, nonoperative therapy should be the first line of treatment. This includes exercise, medication, physical therapy and patient education. If satisfactory pain relief is not achieved using these interventions, the next phase of care is based on more extensive diagnostic evaluation, typically MRI. Based on the results of physical examination and imaging studies, the next step in the continuum of care is typically injections. In the future, at this point in the degenerative cascade, therapies based on tissue engineering may have a role. Such therapies may involve the injection of agents targeted to revitalize the water imbibing properties of a normal disc. While such interventions are under development, it will likely be years before they are commonly available. In the absence of therapies based on tissue engineering, more direct manipulation of disc tissue may be pursued currently. There are multiple therapies available based on percutaneous approaches. There is no general consensus on the exact indications for these interventions to optimize outcome. There has been some discussion on the role of interspinous devices in the treatment of symptomatic disc degeneration by unloading the disc. To date, the use of these devices for pain arising from the disc, rather than from stenosis, has not been investigated and the potential role of such implants remains unknown for painful disc degeneration.
M. Szpalski et al. (eds.), Surgery for Low Back Pain, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-04547-9_5.1, © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2010
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Perhaps one of the most widely accepted spinal surgeries is discectomy for the treatment of herniated disc. This pathology alone typically does not merit fusion or total disc replacement. More severe disc problems, primarily painful disc degeneration that is beyond simple disc herniation, is the phase of the degenerative continuum that has traditionally been treated with lumbar fusion. This is likely the phase optimally treated with TDR. There has been two decades of experience with TDR in Europe, with good results generally reported, even in studies with more than 10-year follow-up [8, 12, 16]. Randomized trials in the United States have provided a direct comparison to fusion with TDR and found TDR to be as effective as fusion, or more effective on some parameters [7, 18]. As with many surgical procedure, indications for these devices have been continually refined; a process that remains ongoing. Specific indications and contra-indications for TDR are discussed below in detail.
Indications The ideal TDR candidate should have painful disc degeneration at one or two lumbar segments. Discography is the method of choice to confirm the painful motion segment prior to intervention. The facet joints should be normal or have only mild degenerative changes. The build of the ideal candidate should be thin. This makes accessing the disc space for implantation much easier. If a surgeon is not well-experienced with anterior lumbar spine surgery, it is suggested that the first cases selected for TDR should be performed at the L5-S1 level. Considering the vascular anatomy, this level is more easily accessed than cephalad levels. After experience is gained at this level, higher levels may be addressed.
R. D. Guyer and D. D. Ohnmeiss
increased awareness of the importance of ruling out patients who may have an increased risk of vertebral body fracture due to osteoporosis or osteopenia. Spinal Deformity To date, there is not much information available providing firm criteria for TDR in patients with lumbar scoliosis. In the Charité trial, curvature of 11° or more was used as an exclusion criteria [7]. The exact curvature that may be successfully treated with TDR is not known. However, one must be aware that the curvature may alter the loading and function of an artificial disc. Scoliosis of multiple levels may pose a particular challenge in trying to realign the spine with the devices. One possible application in scoliosis patients may be the use of TDR at the L5–S1 level in patients with previous multiple-level deformity correction above this segment, which has now become painful. This application of TDR has not been rigorously investigated. Spinal deformity due to tumour, trauma or fracture should not be treated with TDR due to potential biomechanical weakening of the bony structures of the segment(s) to be implanted. Obesity
Contra-Indications
Obesity is an exclusion criterion for TDR. Body mass index (BMI) has been used to set limits for obesity. There is no data suggesting that heavy body weight compromises the function or safety of TDR. Actual weight or BMI may not really be the issue. The item of importance is the depth of the patient’s abdomen, i.e., the distance from the skin to the spine. There may be difficulty with device placement or a much larger incision may be required to properly position the implant into the disc space. Certainly a large patient should not be included in a surgeon’s first few cases and very large patients should be avoided all together.
Osteoporosis
Disc Space Collapse
One of the most important contra-indications for TDR that must be respected is osteoporosis. At the very least, bone mineral density scanning for females more than 40 years of age and males more that 50 is advisable. A DEXA T-sore of less than −1.0 should exclude a patient from receiving a total disc replacement. Earlier, lower T-scores were allowed, but there has been an
Disc space collapse is another issue to consider. Some collapse of the disc space is frequently associated with symptomatic disc degeneration and may be even more prevalent among patients with a previous discectomy. In fact, the ideal patient has some disc space narrowing, but there should be no bone-on-bone contact. The exact measurement of the disc space height that is ideal is not
5.1 How Disc Replacement Fits in the Treatment Algorithm for Degenerative Disc Disease
defined. Bertagnoli et al. suggested a disc space height of at least 4 mm to be a good TDR candidate [2]. However, no basis for this particular value was provided. One reason for concern with severely collapsed disc spaces is that severe disc degeneration may be associated with significant changes of the facet joints. This was not a concern with fusion since the operated segment was to be rendered immobile, including the facets. However, with TDR, the facets will be mobile and if they are potentially a source of pain prior to TDR, they may be symptomatic following the procedure, compromising the overall treatment result. In patients with minimal facet changes, facet injections may be used pre-operatively to evaluate the joint as a possible pain generator. If the joint is painful, TDR is not indicated. Psychological and Behavioural Issues As with any spine surgery procedure, psychological factors may have a significant impact on TDR outcome. Ideally, TDR candidates should undergo pre-operative psychosocial screening conducted by a psychologist familiar with chronic back pain patients [6]. Part of the screening process is helpful in determining if the patient has realistic expectations for outcome. One other item, possibly related to behavioural characteristics, is the role of work status at the time of surgery. Anderson et al. reported that in a group of patients undergoing fusion for symptomatic disc degeneration, working at the time of surgery was related to a significantly improved outcome [1]. In our experience of comparing factors related to outcome in our clinic’s 20 best and 20 worst outcome of TDR, the only factor that significantly differed between the two groups was the length of time off work prior to surgery [15]. In an additional study, we have found that TDR or fusion patients operated for symptomatic disc degeneration patients off work for more than 13 weeks improved from their preoperative condition, but did not improve as much as patients off work for a shorter duration [14]. The difference in outcome could not be attributed to having greater pain or disability prior to surgery. It may be that patients off work for a longer duration have a greater behavioural component to their symptoms.
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patients with prior abdominal surgery in the vicinity of the disc to be operated may not be good candidates for TDR due to the increased risk of vascular injury. Evaluation by the approach surgeon may be beneficial. Also, patients with calcification of the vessels may be ruled out as candidates for TDR due to the risk of vascular complications.
Anatomical Considerations While not necessarily a strict contra-indication for TDR, one should assess the shape of the vertebral bodies and endplates. As discussed by Yue, there are several distinct endplate shapes [17]. Those with a “hook” on the posterior margin may pose difficulty in getting the TDR implanted as deeply posterior as desired. Also, this shape may be prone to fracture if the spike is “chipped” off during prosthetic implantation. The shape of the vertebral body may make the selection of implant size more difficult. Vertebrae with a bevelled edge (Fig. 5.1.1), also referred to as “convex” by Yue [17], may require a smaller implant than
Approach Considerations TDRs are designed for implantation using an anterior to the disc space. As with any anterior spine surgery,
Fig. 5.1.1 The bevelled anterior edges of the vertebral bodies must be taken into account when determining the size of the implant to avoid compromised bone-implant contact area
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what would typically be used for the size of the vertebral body due to the lack of being able to get the implant seated firmly on the bevel. The presence of deep Schmorl’s nodes should be assessed carefully. These may compromise optimal device placement as well as possibly compromise the structural integrity of the vertebral body, leading to bony fracture.
TDR was used to treat adjacent segment deterioration next to a previously fused segment [3]. The authors did emphasize the importance of ruling out pain arising from the facet, instrumentation or pseudoarthrosis prior to considering TDR. Another application of TDR in the treatment of two-level painful disc degeneration is using TDR at one level and a fusion at the other. Good results have been reported for this hybrid procedure [13].
Who Not to Exclude from TDR
Conditions for Which Fusion Should Be Considered Rather than TDR
As more studies are performed, multiple variables have been investigated to determine their possible impact on the results of TDR. While severe facet joint changes should be a contra-indication for TDR, minor facet joint abnormalities do not appear to negatively influence results [9, 11]. There had been some concern expressed over using TDR in patients with a previous discectomy. However, when comparing results of 24-month follow-up in patients with and without a history of previous discectomy, there was no difference in results [10]. The only added consideration in such patients is to check that there was no significant removal of the posterior elements in the previous surgery to render the segment unstable, which is a contra-indication for TDR. The US IDE trials limited the upper bound on age to 60 years. However, Bertagnoli et al. found that TDR resulted in significant improvement in pain and function scores in patients more than 60 years of age [5]. However, in older patients special precautions should be rigorously adhered to. These include DEXA scanning for osteoporosis, careful evaluation to rule out stenosis and careful assessment of the anterior vessels so that the spine can be approached safely. Smoking has generally been found to have a negative impact on the results of lumbar fusion surgery, particularly in patients who smoke more than a pack a day. However, in a study comparing results of TDR in smokers and non-smokers, both groups improved significantly with no significant differences between these two groups [4]. The authors did caution to be more aware of vascular problems. Also, it may be advisable to be more aggressive in screening smokers for osteoporosis. Although excluded in the IDE trials, the use of TDR adjacent to a fusion does not appear to be problematic. Bertagnoli reported on a series of patients in whom
While TDR does have a place in the continuum of care for painful disc degeneration, there are patients in the continuum who are beyond the point of being good TDR candidates. These patients may be fusion candidates. The conditions present in such patients include greater than Grade I spondylolisthesis, significant facet joint arthrosis or stenosis, scoliosis, fracture, facet joint pain, or instability following a laminectomy or other decompressive procedure.
Discussion In the future there may be less invasive treatments, particularly those related to tissue engineering, which may be indicated for the early stages of disc degeneration or disc disruption. Already we are seeing trials evaluating nucleus replacements and post-discectomy repair implants. For discs that are degenerated beyond where these interventions may be applicable, TDR will likely remain a viable treatment option. At the more severe end of the degenerative spectrum, there are patients whose conditions are not amenable to TDR and in whom fusion remains the treatment of choice after nonoperative interventions have failed. As with all of the emerging technologies, including TDR, interspinous spacers, tissue engineering, facet joint replacements and various other forms of posterior dynamic stabilization, there will be many iterations of ongoing studies refining the indications for the various implants. In the ideal world where economics was not an issue, the surgeon would have many more options to offer their patients with advancing technology. For the earliest stages of symptomatic disc degeneration, other motion
5.1 How Disc Replacement Fits in the Treatment Algorithm for Degenerative Disc Disease
preservation surgeries will suffice, but for the more advanced degeneration, TDR with the ensuing first generation and now second generation will offer our patients more options instead of the traditional fusion. I believe, with newer designs of TDR and in combination with posterior reconstruction, fusion for painful disc degeneration will be restricted to fewer and fewer patients.
References 1. Anderson PA, Schwaegler PE, Cizek D et al (2006) Work status as a predictor of surgical outcome of discogenic low back pain. Spine 31:2510–2515 2. Bertagnoli R, Kumar S (2002) Indications for full prosthetic disc arthroplasty: a correlation of clinical outcome against a variety of indications. Eur Spine J 11(suppl 2):S131–S136 3. Bertagnoli R, Yue JJ, Fenk-Mayer A et al (2006) Treatment of symptomatic adjacent-segment degeneration after lumbar fusion with total disc arthroplasty by using the prodisc prosthesis: a prospective study with 2-year minimum follow up. J Neurosurg Spine 4:91–97 4. Bertagnoli R, Yue JJ, Kershaw T et al (2006) Lumbar total disc arthroplasty utilizing the ProDisc prosthesis in smokers versus nonsmokers: a prospective study with 2-year minimum follow-up. Spine 31:992–997 5. Bertagnoli R, Yue JJ, Nanieva R et al (2006) Lumbar total disc arthroplasty in patients older than 60 years of age: a prospective study of the ProDisc prosthesis with 2-year minimum follow-up period. J Neurosurg Spine 4:85–90 6. Block AR, Gatchel RJ, Deardorff WW et al (2003) The psychology of spine surgery. American Psychological Association, Washington DC 7. Blumenthal S, McAfee PC, Guyer RD et al (2005) A prospective, randomized, multicenter Food and Drug Administration investigational device exemptions study of lumbar total disc replacement with the CHARITE artificial disc versus lumbar fusion: part I: evaluation of clinical outcomes. Spine 30: 1565–1575
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8. David T (2007) Long-term results of one-level lumbar arthroplasty: minimum 10-year follow-up of the CHARITE artificial disc in 106 patients. Spine 32:661–666 9. Elders GJ, Blumenthal SL, Guyer RD et al (2005) Effect of facet joint arthrosis on outcome after artificial disc replacement. Spine Arthroplasty Society, New York, NY 10. Leahy M, Zigler JE, Ohnmeiss DD et al (2008) Comparison of results of total disc replacement in post-discectomy patients versus patients with no previous lumbar surgery. Spine 33:1690–1693 11. Le Huec JC, Basso Y, Aunoble S et al (2005) Influence of facet and posterior muscle degeneration on clinical results of lumbar total disc replacement: two-year follow-up. J Spinal Disord Tech 18:219–223 12. Lemaire JP, Carrier H, Sariali el H et al (2005) Clinical and radiological outcomes with the Charite artificial disc: a 10-year minimum follow-up. J Spinal Disord Tech 18:353–359 13. Lhamby J, Guyer R, Zigler J et al (2006) Patients undergoing total disc replacement with spinal fusion at different lumbar levels. International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine, Bergen, Norway 14. Rohan MX, Ohnmeiss DD, Guyer RD et al (2007) Relationship between the length of time off work pre-operatively and clinical outcome at 24-month follow-up. North American Spine Society, Austin, Texas 15. Siddiqui S, Guyer R, Zigler J et al (2006) Factors related to the 20 best and 20 worst 24-month outcomes of total disc replacement in prospective FDA-regulated trials. Spine Arthroplasty Society, Montreal, Canada 16. Tropiano P, Huang RC, Girardi FP et al (2005) Lumbar total disc replacement. Seven to eleven-year follow-up. J Bone Joint Surg Am 87:490–496 17. Yue J, Bertagnoli R, Oetgen M et al (2007) Does vertebral endplate morphology influence clinical and radiographic outcomes in lumbar disc arthroplasty? An initial assessment of a novel classification system of lumbar endplate morphology. Spine Arthroplasty Society, Berlin, Germany 18. Zigler J, Delamarter R, Spivak JM et al (2007) Results of the prospective, randomized, multicenter Food and Drug Administration investigational device exemption study of the ProDisc-L total disc replacement versus circumferential fusion for the treatment of 1-level degenerative disc disease. Spine 32:1155–1162
Clinical Factors that May Affect Outcome in Lumbar Total Disc Replacement. What Is the Evidence?
5.2
Michael R. Zindrick, Mark Lorenz, Leonard I. Voronov, Michael N. Tzermiadianos, and Alexander Hadjipavlou
Evaluating the scientific merit of a new technology early in its life cycle is important for a clinician considering incorporating these techniques into practice. The distinction between marketing hype and true scientific supporting evidence is sometimes blurred. Understanding the strength and quality of evidence that a new technique may have over older tried and established methods is paramount and understand the clinical value and risk benefit ratio of new techniques and the value such techniques may or may not give to one’s practice and to patients. The goal of evidence-based medicine is to apprize and use clinical research findings to aid making decisions about the care of individual patients. Evidencebased medicine (EBM) combines the physician’s clinical experience, with the best available evidence, and patient values [1, 2]. The process of EBM involves translation of a specified problem into an answerable question and systematic retrieval of best evidence available [3]. Clinical findings are raked based on the strength of scientific methodology employed in performing research and developing conclusions. Using the EBM approach, clinicians can choose the best available evidence when making clinical decisions. Armed with this knowledge, the medical practitioner and the patient can make a well-informed decision. In the ideal EBM model, the best available evidence from the literature is combined with clinical experience and patients’ values. When dealing with new technology, there is, however, a lack of physician experience. Patient values may be artificially manipulated and overly optimistic due to marketing and advertising,
M. N. Tzermiadianos (*) 45, Eleftherias Square (Electra BLD, 1st floor), 71201 Heraklion, Crete, Greece e-mail:
[email protected] leading to the misconception that “newest means best”. Under such circumstances, it becomes even more imperative for a clinician embarking on the use of new technology, to fully understand what “best evidence” exists for newer techniques. This distortion of the related values of the EBM tripod, physician’s experience, best evidence, and patient values, is obvious in the early introduction of motion technology. Few physicians have little if any experience with these techniques or devices. Patients have been bombarded by the lay press and manufacturers representations that artificial discs and other parts replacement of the spine will be the answer to their misery and disability. In an attempt to determine the level of the best existing evidence for several factors that may affect outcomes, the authors undertook this study. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the available literature can better allow the medical practitioner and the patient to make wellinformed decisions regarding treatment options. In an attempt to get to the heart of the existing evidence about a variety of clinical factors that might affect the outcomes of artificial disc replacement for the lumbar spine, we posed eleven questions and undertook a systematic review of the existing literature [4]. Those questions were grouped in three main categories: (a) patient selection issues, (b) surgical technique issues, and (c) motion technology issues. Sorting through medical literature to obtain answers can often be difficult. Research studies are susceptible to invalid conclusions resulting from bias, confounding or chance. With the introduction of evidence-based medicine techniques, however, the medical literature can be sorted into levels of evidence based on scientific merit. Higher level studies minimize bias, confounding and chance making their conclusions more likely reliable. By the very nature of their design, lower level studies do not address
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bias, confounding and chance making their results more prone to error. Higher level studies, however, may also have unavoidable methodological flaws. In the ADR literature, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) studies represent the highest quality evidence available [5, 6]. Those studies are randomized, controlled, and use validated outcome measures with a minimum of 2 year follow-up. Entry criteria and patient randomization for the studies is generally good. Lacking in all studies, however, is blinding. The reason for lack of blinding can be easily understood; nonetheless, this exerts a bias on outcome and should be considered when weighing their conclusions. We performed a thorough review of the clinical literature between January 1990 and May 2007 on peer
reviewed literature in English language [4]. Data that were only in abstract form was not used. Duplicate reports were eliminated if there were prior studies that presented the same group of patients and the most current report was used. If the authors reported a subset of a multicentre study, the largest multi-centre series data available were used. Only studies including data addressing the above framed questions were included in this review. We retrieved and reviewed 76 papers; 49 of them were excluded from our study as they did not include relevant information, or were duplicates [4]. The remaining 27 papers were ranked into appropriate evidence levels using the modification of Sackett grading system provided in the J Bone Joint Surg Am, January 2003 [7]. Briefly summarized, Level I studies are randomized, controlled clinical trials. Level II studies are prospective
Table 5.2.1 The articles included in this review were ranked by level of evidence, study design, follow-up, and outcome measures Author Level No Study F.U. Lost at Outcome measures pts design F.U. (%) Charité Tortolani 2007 [8] Trouillier 2006 [9] McAfee 2005 [10] Shim 2007 [11] David 2007 [12] Putzier 2006 [13] Regan 2005 [14] Lemaire 2005 [15] Van Ooij 2003 [16] Scott 2000 [17] Zeegers 1999 [18] Lemaire 1997 [19] Cinotti 1996 [20]
I Prognostic I Prognostic I Therapeutic III Therapeutic IV Therapeutic IV Therapeutic IV Therapeutic IV Therapeutic IV Therapeutic IV Therapeutic IV Therapeutic IV Therapeutic IV Therapeutic
276 13 205– 99 61 108 71 100 107 27 14 50 105 46
Prosp Prosp Prosp Retro Retro Retro Prosp Retro Retro Retro Prosp Retro Retro
2 years 6 months 2 years 3 years 13.2 year 17 years 6–24 months 11.3 years 7.5 years 18–68 months 2 years 4 years 3.2 years
I Prognostic III Prognostic III Prognostic IV Therapeutic IV Therapeutic IV Therapeutic IV Therapeutic IV Therapeutic IV Therapeutic IV Therapeutic IV Therapeutic IV Therapeutic IV Therapeutic
52 64 64 99 94 38 22 118 29 64 53 108 34
Prosp Retro Retro Prosp Prosp Prosp Prosp Prosp Prosp Retro Prosp Prosp Prosp
2 years 8.7 years 8.6 years 2 years 3 years 37 months 2 years 2 years 2 years 8.7 years 1.4 years 3months–2 years 1 year
8.5 6.5 2 25 7 28.50 8
Heterotopic ossification Facet subchondral bone density ODI, SF36 ODI Non-validated ODI ODI Non-validated Non-validated Non-validated Non-validated Non-validated Non-validated
ProDisc Patel 2006 [21] Huang 2006 [22] Huang 2005 [23] Siepe 2007 [24] Siepe 2006 [25] Chung 2006 [26] Bertagnoli 2006 [27] Bertagnoli 2005 [28] Bertagnoli 2005 [29] Tropiano 2005 [30] Tropiano 2003 [31] Bertagnoli 2002 [32] Mayer 2002 [33]
34 41 2 5 0 12 14 14
23.5
ODI, CT scan Radiographic review Stauffer-Coventry score, ODI ODI ODI, SF36 ODI ODI ODI ODI Non-validated ODI ODI ODI
Maverick Le Huec 2005 [34] IV Therapeutic 64 Prosp 2 years 0 ODI ODI oswestry disability index; Prosp prospective study; Retro retrospective study; CT Computed Tomography; FU Follow-up; pts Patients
5.2 Clinical Factors that May Affect Outcome in Lumbar Total Disc Replacement. What Is the Evidence?
non-randomized comparative studies. Level III studies are retrospective comparative studies or case-controlled studies. Level IV includes case series, with no comparison group. Level V evidence, which refers to expert opinions, was not included in the present study. Previous reviews on ADR were also not included. Articles were graded according to the type of study (therapeutic, prognostic, etc) and the level of evidence (I–IV) by two independent reviewers. We also listed other variables that may affect study quality, especially in level IV studies, such as the study design, follow-up period, percentage of patients lost at follow-up, and the use of validated outcome measures (Table 5.2.1).
Patient Selection Issues (a) Is the outcome after single segment implantation similar to multi-segmental implantation? Ten level IV studies were found (Table 5.2.2). Three studies [20, 24, 26] report inferior results with multi-segmental implantations , while six studies [15, 18, 28–31, 33] report similar results . Therefore, available studies evaluating the question of single vs. multilevel surgery provide conflicting results.
185
(b) Does spinal level of ADR affect outcome? Two prospective, level IV studies were found. Regan et al. [13] in a study of 100 patients implanted with Charité, report no statistical difference in outcome when L4-L5 was compared to L5-S1 at 6–24 months of follow-up [14]. Siepe et al. [24] in a study of 99 patients with ProDisc II with a mean 2 year follow-up reported a trend towards better outcomes at L4-L5 when compared to L5-S1 [24]. (c) Does patients’ age affect outcome? Eight level IV studies were found (Table 5.2.3). Younger age was a favourable predictive factor in three studies [18, 25, 34], while was a negative factor in one study [30]. Patient age did not affect outcome in four studies [17, 26, 27, 31]. Some authors report higher complication rates in older patients, as lordosis enhancement after implantation can exacerbate spinal stenosis, and compromised bone quality can increase the risk of subsidence [27]. In conclusion, the role of patients’ age remains unclear; however, the possibility of higher complications and the morbidity of additional surgical interventions in older patients should be considered in decision making. (d) Does prior surgery affect outcome? Twelve level IV studies were found (Table 5.2.4). Prior surgery had a negative effect on outcome in six studies [12, 20, 29–31, 34], while it had no effect on outcome in five studies [19, 25, 26, 28, 33]. In one study, prior surgery
Table 5.2.2 Effect of number of levels implanted in clinical outcomes Author Level Study design FU
No pts
Effect of multi-segmental implantation on outcome
1 level: 36 2 levels: 10 1 level: 54 2 level: 45 1 level: 29 2 level: 18
Inferior results
Charité Cinotti 1996 [20]
IV
Retro
3.2 years
Lemaire 2005 [15]
IV
Retro
>10 years
Zeegers 1999 [18]
IV
Prosp
2 years
Siepe 2007 [24]
IV
Prosp
2 years
Chung 2006 [26]
IV
Prosp
2 years
Bertagnoli 2005 [28] Bertagnoli 2005 [29] Tropiano 2005 [30]
IV IV IV
Prosp Prosp Prosp
2 years 2 years 8.7 years
Tropiano 2003 [31]
IV
Prosp
1–2 years
Mayer 2002 [33]
IV
Prosp
1 year
No difference No difference
ProDisc 1 level: 79 2 level: 20 1 level: 25 2 level: 11 1 level: 106 ³ 2 levels: 25 1 level: 35 ³ 2 levels: 20 1 level: 40 ³ 2 levels: 13 1 level: 31 ³ 2 level: 3
Inferior results Inferior results No difference No difference No difference No difference
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Table 5.2.3 Effect of patients’ age on clinical outcomes Author Level Study design FU
No pts
Effect of age on outcome
Charité Zeegers 1999 [18] Scott 2000 [17]
IV IV
Prosp Retro
2 years 4 years
46 14
Patients < 45 years had better outcome Age > 45 did not affect outcome
IV IV IV IV IV
Prosp Prosp Prosp Prosp Prosp
3 years 8.7 years 2 years 2 years 1.4 years
92 55 36 22 53
Patients < 40 years had better outcome Patients > 45 years had better outcome Age did not affect outcome Age did not affect outcome Age > 50 did not affect outcome
IV
Prosp
2 years
64
Young patients had better outcome
ProDisc Siepe 2006 [25] Tropiano 2005 [30] Chung 2006 [26] Bertagnoli 2006 [27] Tropiano 2003 [31] Maverick Le Huec 2005 [34]
Table 5.2.4 Effect of prior surgery on patients’ outcome Author Level Study FU design
No pts with (+) or without (−) previous surgery
Effect of previous surgery on outcome
(+) : 24 (−): 22 (+): 44 (−): 62 (+): 27 (−): 33 (+) : 55 (−): 50
Negative effect
Charité Cinotti 1996 [20]
IV
Retro
3.2 years
David 2007 [12]
IV
Retro
13.2 years
Zeegers 1999 [18]
IV
Prosp
2 years
Lemaire 1997 [19]
IV
Retro
4 years
Bertagnoli 2005 [29]
IV
Prosp
2 years
Tropiano 2005 [30]
IV
Prosp
8.7 years
Tropiano 2003 [31]
IV
Prosp
1.4 years
Mayer 2002 [33]
IV
Prosp
1 year
Bertagnoli 2005 [28]
IV
Prosp
2 years
Siepe 2006 [25]
IV
Prosp
3 years
Chung 2006 [26]
IV
Prosp
2 years
IV
Prosp
2 years
Negative effect in patients with > 2 previous surgeries Negative effect at 1 year No effect at 2 years No effect
ProDisc (+): 17 (−): 12 (+): 28 (−): 27 (+): 11 (−): 33 (+): 9 (−): 25 (+): 60 (−): 46 (+): 17 (−): 75 (+):7 (−):29
Negative effect Negative effect 90% satisfactory results 97% satisfactory result No effect No effect No effect No effect
Maverick Le Huec 2005 [34]
64
Negative effect
5.2 Clinical Factors that May Affect Outcome in Lumbar Total Disc Replacement. What Is the Evidence?
had a negative effect on outcome at 1 year and no effect at 2 years follow-up [18]. Most of the studies used non-validated outcome measures [12, 18–20, 30]. (e) Does preoperative facet degeneration affect outcome? Only one level IV study was found. Le Huec et al. [34] in a prospective study of 64 Maverick ADR reported that mild or moderate facet osteoarthritis (grade 1 or 2, on the 0–3 Fujiwara scale), did not influence outcome at 2 years follow-up. Patients with severe facet arthrosis had worse outcome, but their number was small to reach conclusive evidence. Therefore, the role of pre-existing facet arthrosis is still obscure. Pre-existing facet arthrosis is currently a contraindication to ADR; however, one study suggests that mild to moderate facet degeneration does not influence ADR outcomes [34]. Clinically significant facet arthrosis is reported to be present in 66% of patients undergoing fusion surgery [35]. Nevertheless, the extent of facet degeneration that can be accepted in motion preservation surgery remains to be evaluated, as most of the candidates for this surgery are expected to have some degree of facet arthrosis.
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Surgical Technique Issues (a) Does prosthesis positioning affect ROM or outcome? One level I study and seven level IV studies were found (Table 5.2.5). There is level I evidence that accuracy of placement affects both clinical outcome and range of motion after ADR [10]. Data from level IV studies are conflicting; three studies reported that placement can affect long-term outcome leading to the development of symptomatic facet arthrosis [12, 15] or decreased ROM [20], while four studies showed no effect [18, 21, 26, 34]. Therefore, higher level studies appear to support the importance of surgical precision upon clinical outcome.
Motion Technology Issues (a) Does ROM of the implanted segment affect outcome? One level III and two Level IV studies were found (Table 5.2.6). A level III prognostic study reports
Table 5.2.5 Effect of implant positioning on Range of motion (ROM) and clinical outcome Author Level Study design FU No pts Effect of placement Charité McAfee 2005 [10] David 2007 [12]
I IV
Prosp Retro
2 years 13.2 years
276 106
Affects both outcomes and ROM Anterior placement is correlated with the development of symptomatic facet arthrosis All patients that developed facet arthrosis had non-ideal placement No effect Affects ROM
Lemaire 2005 [15]
IV
Retro
10 years
100
Zeegers 1999 [18] Cinotti 1996 [20]
IV IV
Prosp Retro
2 years 3.2 years
50 46
IV IV
Prosp Prosp
2 years >2 years
52 36
No effect No effect
IV
Prosp
2 years
64
No effect if implant was between 0 and 7 mm from the posterior wall
ProDisc Patel 2006 [21] Chung 2006 [26] Maverick Le Huec 2005 [34] ROM (Range of motion) Table 5.2.6 Effect of range of motion after implantation on clinical outcome Study Level design FU No pts ROM
Effect of ROM on outcome
Charité Putzier 2006 [13]
IV Therapeutic
Retro
17 year
53
Functional–mobile Patients with functional implants implants: 17% were less satisfied
III Prognostic IV Therapeutic
Retro Prosp
8.6 year 3 year
39 36
ROM>5°: 28%
ProDisc Huang 2005 [23] Chung 2006 [26]
Better outcomes with ROM >5° Better outcomes with higher ROM
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that segmental ROM >5° was associated with a statistically significant but clinically modest better clinical outcome and a trend towards improved low back pain scores as compared to ROM £5° [23]. Similarly, a level IV prospective study reports that higher segmental motion after implantation was associated with better clinical outcomes [26]. On the contrary, another level IV retrospective study reports that patients with functional implants were significantly less satisfied than those with spontaneous ankylosis [13]. In conclusion, data from a level III prognostic study suggest that higher ROM of the implanted segment may be related with better outcomes. This is supported by a prospective level IV study [26], while contradicted by a retrospective level IV study [13]. (b) What is the fate of facets after the implantation? Two Level I, two level III and three level IV studies were found. Level I studies suggest no facet encum berment, as measured by CT osteoabsorptiometry of subchondral bone density [9], or facet changes measured on CT examination [21]. However, follow-up in both studies was short, ranging from 6 to 24 months (Table 5.2.7). Level III and level IV studies with longer follow-up suggest progression of facet arthrosis over time. Lemaire et al. [15] reported that patients who developed facet arthrosis had non-ideal anterior positioning of the prosthesis. Symptoms were developed in 36% of those patients. Prosthesis placement lateral to the ideal midline position was associated with development of symptoms. David [12] reported that 4.7% of
patients required posterior fusion for symptomatic facet arthrosis within 3–12 years after implantation. Symptomatic facet arthrosis accounted for 45.4% of index level reoperation. This study also correlates the development of symptomatic facet arthrosis with anterior placement of the prosthesis. Similarly, Van Ooij et al. [16] in a series of 27 patients with unsatisfactory results after Charité disc replacement reported a 40.7% incidence of symptomatic facet arthrosis. The mean interval from surgery to facet arthrosis was 4.4 years. Shim et al. [11] in a level III comparative study reported no statistical difference of the facet degeneration between patients implanted with Charité and ProDisc. In conclusion, several level IV studies report degradation of facet degeneration after the implantation [11, 15]. Furthermore, the commonest reason for conversion to fusion in long-term follow-up is the development of symptomatic facet arthrosis [12, 16]. Although it is theoretically postulated that prosthesis design and constrain may have a significant role in development of facet arthrosis, data from a level III comparative study show similar rates of facet degradation in a constrained vs. a semi-constrained device [11]. (c) What is the rate of heterotopic ossification, and what are their effects on ROM and clinical outcome? One Level I and four Level IV studies were found (Table 5.2.8). In a prognostic level I study, Tortolani et al. [8] reported a 4.3% incidence of heterotopic ossification at 2 year follow-up. The presence of heterotopic ossification did not significantly affect range of
Table 5.2.7 Incidence of radiographic and symptomatic facet degeneration Author Level Study FU No pts Radiographic design
Symptomatic
Charité Trouillier 2006 [9]
I
Prosp
6 months
13
Shim 2007 [11] David 2007 [12] Lemaire 2005 [15] Van Ooij 2003 [16]
III IV IV IV
Retro Retro Retro Retro
3 years 13.2 years 10 years 7.5 years
106 100 27
I III
Prosp Retro
6–24 months 3 years
No evidence of sclerosis of facet joints measured by CT osteoabsorptiometry 36.6% 11%
ProDisc Patel 2006 [21] Shim 2007 [11]
52
0% 32%
4.7% 4% 40.7% incidence of facet joint arthrosis among patients with unsatisfactory results
5.2 Clinical Factors that May Affect Outcome in Lumbar Total Disc Replacement. What Is the Evidence?
189
Table 5.2.8 Incidence of heterotopic ossification (HO) and its effect on range of motion (ROM) and clinical outcome Author Level Study FU No pts H.O. (%) Effect on ROM Effect on outcome design Charité Tortolani 2007 [8] David 2007 [12] Putzier 2006 [13] Lemaire 2005 [15] Cinotti 1996 [20]
I IV IV IV IV
Prosp Retro Retro Retro Retro
2 years 13.2 years 17 years 11.3 years 3.2 years
276 106 53 100 46
4.3 6.6 73 3 15.2
Table 5.2.9 Reported rate of adjacent level degeneration (ALD) after ADR Author Level Study FU design
No effect Negative Negative
Negative
Negative
No effect
No pts
Radiographic ALD (%)
No effect
Surgery for ALD (%)
Charité Shim 2007 [11] David 2007 [12] Lemaire 2005 [15] Putzier 2006 [13] Cinotti 1996 [20]
III IV IV IV IV
Retro Retro Retro Retro Retro
3 years 13.2 years 11.3 years 17 years 3.2 years
33 106 100 53 10/46
19.4
III IV IV
Retro Retro Prosp
3 years 8.7 years 3 months–2 years
24 42 108
28.6 24 9.2
2.8 2 17 0
ProDisc Shim 2007 [11] Huang 2006 [22] Bertagnoli 2002 [32]
motion or clinical outcome. Five level IV studies were also found. Cinotti et al. [20] reported a 15.2% incidence of periannular ossifications; and 57% of patients with ossifications had spontaneous interbody fusion. However, periannular ossifications did not affect clinical outcome. David [10] reported partial ossification in 3.8% of patients and complete ossification with spontaneous fusion in 2.8% of patients. Ossifications occurred only in patients treated with postoperative brace and activities restriction, while it was not noted in patients who had early active physiotherapy [12]. Putzier et al. [13] reported that 60% of patients had spontaneous fusion and another 13% had signs of possible or likely motion impairment. Patients with functional implants without signs of heterotopic ossification were less satisfied than those with spontaneous ankylosis. Lemaire et al. [15] reported a 3% incidence of heterotopic ossification, without any cases of spontaneous arthrodesis. However, 9% of patients in that study had ROM 3°
IV
Retro
8.7 years
42
34% in patients with ROM 5°
ProDisc Huang 2006 [22]
[13, 23]. Huang et al. [23] suggested that ROM ³5° is a plausible crucial threshold to prevent adjacent level degeneration. The motion data provided to FDA from the IDE of Charité show that at 24 months after implantation 33% of patients had less than 5° of ROM [36]. Since it may take more than a decade for symptomatic junctional degeneration to develop, longer follow-up period is necessary to shed more light on the effect of ADR vs. fusion in randomized prospective trials.
Conclusions Not surprisingly, the majority of the experimental studies were level IV, with only limited higher level studies. This reflects the difficulties in performing a randomized controlled trial, as well as the reluctance among clinicians and patients to deviate from their concepts of what the optimum treatment should be. In the absence of higher level studies, most of the best evidence concerning ADR comes from level IV studies (Table 5.2.1). Therefore, existing evidence does not allow drawing definite conclusions in the majority of the clinical questions regarding indications and factors that may affect outcomes. Where feasible, conclusions are mainly drawn from lower level, least reliable evidence. Highest quality data are short term and longer term data are of lower quality and in many instances conflicting. This lower level data, however, are plentiful and often quoted. The clinician must understand when taking important clinical decisions that the scientific ground on which he/she is treading may not be as solid, as one would wish. There exist no long-term studies of high level scientific merit that demonstrate long-term efficacy of motion preservation technology over traditional techniques. Additionally, there exist limited data to
suggest or support that junctional breakdown above fusions is clinically altered or is different from the normal degenerative process expected over ensuing period of time. There are limited data to suggest that motion technologies prevent the natural progression of degeneration, either at the index level or at adjacent segments, at this time. However, it is important to clarify that lack of evidence is not synonymous to lack of benefit. Highlevel studies with long-term follow-up are necessary to shed further light on important clinical issues.
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5.2 Clinical Factors that May Affect Outcome in Lumbar Total Disc Replacement. What Is the Evidence? A prospective, randomized study of two hundred and seventy-six patients. J Bone Joint Surg Am 89(1):82 9. Trouillier H, Kern P, Refior HJ, Muller-Gerbl M (2006) A prospective morphological study of facet joint integrity following intervertebral disc replacement with the CHARITÉ artificial disc. Eur Spine J 15:174–182 10. McAfee PC, Cunningham B, Holsapple G, Adams K et al (2005) A prospective, randomized, multicenter Food and Drug Administration investigational device exemption study of lumbar total disc replacement with the CHARITÉ artificial disc versus lumbar fusion: part II: evaluation of radiographic outcomes and correlation of surgical technique accuracy with clinical outcomes. Spine 30:1576–1583 11. Shim CS, Lee SH, Shin HD et al (2007) Charité versus ProDisc: a comparative study of a minimum 3-year followup. Spine 32:1012–1018 12. David T (2007) Long-term results of one-level lumbar arthroplasty: minimum 10-year follow-up of the CHARITÉ artificial disc in 106 patients. Spine 32(6):661–666 13. Putzier M, Funk JF, Schneider SV, Gross C et al (2006) Charité total disc replacement-clinical and radiographical results after an average follow-up of 17 years. Eur Spine J 15:183–195 14. Regan JJ (2005) Clinical results of Charité lumbar total disc replacement. Orthop Clin North Am 36:323–340 15. Lemaire JP, Carrier H, Ali el-HS et al (2005) Clinical and radiological outcomes with the charitetrade mark artificial disc: A 10-year minimum follow-up. J Spinal Disord Tech 18:353–359 16. van Ooij A, Oner FC, Verbout AJ (2003) Complications of artificial disc replacement: a report of 27 patients with the SB Charité disc. J Spinal Disord Tech 16:369–383 17. Sott AH, Harrison DJ (2000) Increasing age does not affect good outcome after lumbar disc replacement. Int Orthop 24:50–53 18. Zeegers WS, Bohnen LM, Laaper M, Verhaegen MJ (1999) Artificial disc replacement with the modular type SB Charité III: 2-year results in 50 prospectively studied patients. Eur Spine J 8:210–217 19. Lemaire JP, Skalli W, Lavaste F et al (1997) Intervertebral disc prosthesis. Results and prospects for the year 2000. Clin Orthop Relat Res 337:64–76 20. Cinotti G, David T, Postacchini F (1996) Results of disc prosthesis after a minimum follow-up period of 2 years. Spine 21:995–1000 21. Patel VV, Andrews C, Pradhan BB et al (2006) Computed tomography assessment of the accuracy of in vivo placement of artificial discs in the lumbar spine including radiographic and clinical consequences. Spine 31:948–953 22. Huang RC, Tropiano P, Marnay T et al (2006) Range of motion and adjacent level degeneration after lumbar total disc replacement. Spine J 6:242–247
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23. Huang RC, Girardi FP, Cammisa FP Jr et al (2005) Correlation between range of motion and outcome after lumbar total disc replacement: 8.6-year follow-up. Spine 30: 1407–1411 24. Siepe CJ, Mayer HM, Heinz-Leisenheimer M, Korge A (2007) Total lumbar disc replacement: different results for different levels. Spine 32:782–790 25. Siepe CJ, Mayer HM, Wiechert K, Korge A (2006) Clinical results of total lumbar disc replacement with ProDisc II: three-year results for different indications. Spine 31: 1923–1932 26. Chung SS, Lee CS, Kang CS (2006) Lumbar total disc replacement using ProDisc II: a prospective study with a 2-year minimum follow-up. J Spinal Disord Tech 19:411–415 27. Bertagnoli R, Yue JJ, Nanieva R et al (2006) Lumbar total disc arthroplasty in patients older than 60 years of age: a prospective study of the ProDisc prosthesis with 2-year minimum follow-up period. J Neurosurg Spine 4:85–90 28. Bertagnoli R, Yue JJ, Shah RV et al (2005) The treatment of disabling single-level lumbar discogenic low back pain with total disc arthroplasty utilizing the Prodisc prosthesis: a prospective study with 2-year minimum follow-up. Spine 30: 2230–2236 29. Bertagnoli R, Yue JJ, Shah RV et al (2005) The treatment of disabling multilevel lumbar discogenic low back pain with total disc arthroplasty utilizing the ProDisc prosthesis: a prospective study with 2-year minimum follow-up. Spine 30: 2192–2199 30. Tropiano P, Huang RC, Girardi FP et al (2005) Lumbar total disc replacement. Seven to eleven-year follow-up. J Bone Joint Surg Am 87:490–496 31. Tropiano P, Huang RC, Girardi FP, Marnay T (2003) Lumbar disc replacement: preliminary results with ProDisc II after a minimum follow-up period of 1 year. J Spinal Disord Tech 16:362–368 32. Bertagnoli R, Kumar S (2002) Indications for full prosthetic disc arthroplasty: a correlation of clinical outcome against a variety of indications. Eur Spine J 11(suppl 2):S131–S136 33. Mayer HM, Wiechert K, Korge A, Qose I (2002) Minimally invasive total disc replacement: surgical technique and preliminary clinical results. Eur Spine J 11(suppl 2): S124–S130 34. Le Huec JC, Basso Y, Aunoble S et al (2005) Influence of facet and posterior muscle degeneration on clinical results of lumbar total disc replacement: two-year follow-up. J Spinal Disord Tech 18:219–223 35. Huang RC, Lim MR, Girardi FP, Cammisa FP Jr (2004) The prevalence of contraindications to total disc replacement in a cohort of lumbar surgical patients. Spine 29:2538–2541 36. Mirza SK (2005) Point of view: commentary on the research reports that led to Food and Drug Administration approval of an artificial disc. Spine 30:1561–1564
A Prospective Randomized Comparison of Two Lumbar Total Disk Replacements
5.3
Richard D. Guyer and Donna D. Ohnmeiss
Introduction Total disk replacement (TDR) was developed in Europe and has been available there for many years with good results reported [1–6]. Favorable results for TDR have been reported more recently from other regions as well [7, 8]. After the completion of the FDA-regulated trials, these implants are gaining acceptance in the United States [9, 10]. In these randomized studies, TDR was compared to anterior lumbar interbody fusion or combined anterior/posterior instrumented fusion. The TDR results were as good as fusion, and better on some outcome measures. There is little information comparing TDRs. In a relatively small retrospective study of 61 patients, it was reported that the results of Charité and ProDisc were similar [8]. To date, there has not been a prospective, randomized study comparing two TDR devices. The purpose of the current, ongoing study was to compare the results of TDR using Kineflex to Charité.
Materials and Methods Kineflex is a three-piece metal on metal, semiconstrained lumbar artificial disk consisting of two cobalt chrome molybdenum (CCM) end plates and a fully articulating CCM core (Fig. 5.3.1a). It has been used
R. D. Guyer (*) Texas Back Institute, 6020 West Parker Rd. 200, Plano, TX 75093, USA e-mail:
[email protected] clinically since 2002, with over 1,500 disks implanted worldwide. Kineflex is being investigated under an IDE clinical study in the United States that began in the summer of 2005 and completed enrollment in the December of 2006. The Charité Artificial consists of two end plates manufactured from CoCrMo alloy and a UHMWPE sliding core (Fig. 5.3.1b). It has been used clinically since the 1980s and has been approved for use in the United States since 2004. A total of 85 patients from two centers participating in the FDA-regulated trial were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive the Kineflex or Charité TDR. All patients were treated for single-level symptomatic disk degeneration at either the L4-5 or L5-1 level. The majority of the surgeries were performed at L5-1. Data reported for this include peri-operative data and 12-month clinical follow-up. Peri-operative data were collected including estimated blood loss, operative time, and the length of hospitalization. Clinical results were based on visual analog scales assessing pain (VAS) and the Oswestry Disability Index. Radiographic data through the 6-month follow-up were available at the time of this writing. All radiographs were sent to a central independent center to be measured. Radiographic assessment included disk space height and range of motion determined from flexion/extension films.
Patient Selection Criteria Appropriate patient selection is important for achieving optimal clinical outcomes. A summary of patient selection criteria from the Kineflex IDE clinical study are as follows:
M. Szpalski et al. (eds.), Surgery for Low Back Pain, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-04547-9_5.3, © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2010
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194 Fig. 5.3.1 The Kineflex (a) and Charité (b) devices
R. D. Guyer and D. D. Ohnmeiss
a
Inclusion Criteria Overview
• Between 18 and 60 years of age • Evidence of degenerative disk disease (DDD) at either L4/L5 or L5/S1 with radiographic evidence of one or more of the following: −− Mild to moderate osteophyte formation of the vertebral endplates −− Loss of disk height of at least 2 mm when compared to adjacent level −− Herniated nucleus pulposus −− Loss of water content on MRI • History of back and/or radicular pain which is severe, ongoing, and recurrent • Have at least 6 months of prior conservative treatment for discogenic back pain • Have a visual analog score (VAS) of at least 40 on a 100-mm scale Exclusion Criteria Overview
• Any back or leg pain of unknown origin • Degenerative spondylolisthesis with greater than 3 mm slippage at study level
b
• Disk space height less than 3 mm at study level • Scoliosis of the lumbar spine with greater than 11° coronal deformity • Less than 2° of motion at index level • Metabolic bone disease (e.g., osteopenia, gout, osteomalacia, Paget’s disease) • Morbid obesity (body mass index greater than 40 or more than 100 pounds overweight) There were 44 patients randomized to the Kineflex group and 41 were assigned to the Charité group. The mean age was 40.6 years, ranging from 20 to 60 years. TDR was performed at the L4-5 level in 22.4% of patients and at L5-1 in the remaining 77.6%.
Biomechanical Testing A substantial body of preclinical mechanical testing has been performed on the Kineflex Spinal System including static testing, monoaxial fatigue testing, and wear testing. These tests were performed to simulate the load and movement to which the disks would be exposed under in vivo conditions, and to
5.3 A Prospective Randomized Comparison of Two Lumbar Total Disk Replacements
verify that the prosthesis could withstand static and fatigue load conditions, as well as to determine the wear characteristics of the prosthesis. Static testing found no height reduction in any of the test specimens and that the implant exceeded the strength of the vertebral bodies. Compression and shear fatigue dynamic testing resulted in no measurable dimensional or mass changes in either the end plates or the core. To evaluate wear, the device was tested to ten million cycles. The wear testing of the Kineflex disk demonstrates a wear rate that is similar to other allmetal disk prostheses that have been under clinical evaluation.
Clinical Results The mean operative time, blood loss, and length of hospital stay are presented in Table 5.3.1. These values are similar to, or less than, those previously reported for TDRs [5, 7, 9–11]. With respect to clinical outcome, both the Kineflex and Charité groups improved when comparing the pre to 12-month postoperative VAS and Oswestry scores (Figs. 5.3.2 and 5.3.3). The degree of improvement was similar to that reported in previous studies evaluating the two devices [7, 9]. The incidence and types of adverse events in the two groups were very similar. In particular, the rate of intraoperative vessel damage was 2.3% in the Kineflex group and 2.4% in the Charité group. The reoperation rate at the index level in the two groups was also similar. Radiographic assessment data were available through the 6-month follow-up. The pattern of change in range of motion at the implanted level, as measured from flexion/extension radiographs, was similar in the two groups (Fig. 5.3.4). In both groups, the mean disk height increased after TDR and was stable through the 6-month follow-up (Fig. 5.3.5).
Table 5.3.1 The mean operative time, blood loss, and length of hospital stay in the two surgical groups Kineflex Charité Blood loss (mL)
113.9
60.8
Operative time (min)
72.0
59.5
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Fig. 5.3.2 The mean visual analog score (VAS) scores preoperatively and at 12-month follow-up. Both the Kineflex and the Charité groups improved and improved similar to values reported in previous studies using the same devices [7, 9]
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Fig. 5.3.3 The mean Oswestry scores preoperatively and at 12-month follow-up. Both the Kineflex and the Charité groups improved and improved similar to values reported in previous studies using the same devices [7, 9]
Discussion This study provides preliminary data from two sites participating in the FDA-regulated trial evaluating the Kineflex artificial disk by comparing it to the Charité disk that has been approved by the FDA. The results of
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collected at other sites in accordance with the same protocol. Clinical outcomes were similar in this study compared to other TDR trials. This study reinforces that when rigorously adhering to a well-defined patient selection criteria, similar results are produced across different TDR implants. In the context of published fusion studies, these results are comparable to superior. Long-term follow-up will be needed to address the possibility of TDR reducing the incidence of adjacent segment degeneration. Based on the preliminary results of this study, TDR again is supported as a viable treatment for painful disk degeneration.
Fig. 5.3.4 The mean range of motion (degrees) of the Kineflex and Charité devices 16
References 12
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6 mo
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Fig. 5.3.5 The mean disk space height was increased and maintained in both TDR groups
the study found that with respect to peri-operative data, clinical outcome, adverse events, and radiographic results, the two disks produced similar results in this randomized study. The clinical outcomes, assessed by VAS and Oswestry scores, improved after TDR with either of the devices. The changes were similar to those reported in separate studies evaluating the Charité and Kineflex devices [7, 9]. The mean range of motion values in the current study followed a pattern of being reduced at 3 months compared to preoperative values, and increasing between the 3- and 6-month follow-up visits. This pattern was also seen in the FDA IDE trial for Charité [12]. With both TDR devices, the disk space height was increased postoperatively and was stable through the 6-month radiographic follow-up. The 24-month follow-up will be collected for patients enrolled in this study. Also, data are being
1. Bertagnoli R, Yue JJ, Shah RV et al (2005) The treatment of disabling single-level lumbar discogenic low back pain with total disc arthroplasty utilizing the Prodisc prosthesis: a prospective study with 2-year minimum follow-up. Spine 30: 2230–2236 2. Blumenthal S, McAfee PC, Guyer RD et al (2005) A prospective, randomized, multicenter Food and Drug Administration investigational device exemptions study of lumbar total disc replacement with the CHARITÉ artificial disc versus lumbar fusion: part I: evaluation of clinical outcomes. Spine 30:1565–1575 3. Cinotti G, David T, Postacchini F (1996) Results of disc prosthesis after a minimum follow-up period of 2 years. Spine 21:995–1000 4. David T (2007) Long-term results of one-level lumbar arthroplasty: minimum 10-year follow-up of the CHARITÉ artificial disc in 106 patients. Spine 32:661–666 5. Hahnle UR, Weinberg IR, Sliwa K et al (2007) Kineflex (Centurion) lumbar disc prosthesis: insertion technique and 2-year clinical results in 100 patients. SAS J 1:28–35 6. Lemaire JP, Carrier H, Sariali el H et al (2005) Clinical and radiological outcomes with the Charité artificial disc: a 10-year minimum follow-up. J Spin Disord Tech 18: 353–359 7. Mayer HM, Wiechert K, Korge A et al (2002) Minimally invasive total disc replacement: surgical technique and preliminary clinical results. Eur Spine J 11(Suppl 2): S124–S130 8. McAfee PC, Cunningham B, Holsapple G et al (2005) A prospective, randomized, multicenter Food and Drug Administration investigational device exemption study of lumbar total disc replacement with the CHARITÉ artificial disc versus lumbar fusion: part II: evaluation of radiographic outcomes and correlation of surgical technique accuracy with clinical outcomes. Spine 30:1576–1583 9. Shim CS, Lee SH, Shin HD et al (2007) CHARITÉ versus ProDisc: a comparative study of a minimum 3-year followup. Spine 32:1012–1018
5.3 A Prospective Randomized Comparison of Two Lumbar Total Disk Replacements 10. Siepe CJ, Mayer HM, Wiechert K et al (2006) Clinical results of total lumbar disc replacement with ProDisc II: three-year results for different indications. Spine 31:1923–1932 11. Tropiano P, Huang RC, Girardi FP et al (2005) Lumbar total disc replacement. Seven to eleven-year follow-up. J Bone Joint Surg Am 87:490–496
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12. Zigler J, Delamarter R, Spivak JM et al (2007) Results of the prospective, randomized, multicenter Food and Drug Administration investigational device exemption study of the ProDisc-L total disc replacement versus circumferential fusion for the treatment of 1-level degenerative disc disease. Spine 32:1155–1162
Limitations of Lumbar Disk Arthroplasty
5.4
Serena S. Hu
Motion-sparing procedures that can address back pain, such as disk replacements and dynamic stabilization, have caught the enthusiasm of surgeons and patients alike. While these innovations are exciting and have significant promise, it is important to also keep in mind the limitations of what this new technology can offer. These procedures, for the most part, are considered to be alternatives to fusions for low back pain. But all fusions for low back pain are not the same. When the indication for surgery is spondylolisthesis, scoliosis, or fracture, the successful relief of back pain can be upward of 80%. However, fusion for discogenic low back pain, or degenerative disk disease, has historically had success rates of 50–70%. One of the problems with the diagnosis of degenerative disk disease is the difficulty in clarifying the difference between physiologic aging and pathologic degeneration. Back pain is ubiquitous in the upright human spine; however, disability due to back pain differs widely among cultures. The majority of back pain is self-limited, with only a small percentage of people with back pain developing “chronic” low back pain for longer than 3 months. Boden [1] found that Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) performed in asymptomatic individuals under age 60, 20% showed HNP. In addition, a test used by many surgeons to demonstrate that a specific disk or disks is/are the source of the pain, the discogram, can be unreliable in chronic pain patients [2, 3]. Arguably, many patients who have low back pain become chronic pain patients; our current diagnostic testing does not allow us to sort those in
S. S. Hu Department of Orthopedic Surgery, 500 Parnassus Avenue, Room MU320 West, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA e-mail:
[email protected] whom “chronic pain behavior” is reversible. These studies found that occupational factors, neurophysiological factors, and psychometric factors were more predictive of the development of back pain than abnormal MRI or positive discography [3]. They also studied patients who underwent lumbar fusion for discogenic back pain (positive single-level concordant discogram with negative control level) compared to those who had lumbar fusions for unstable spondylolisthesis (2007). The discogenic back pain group had a 43% rate of “minimal acceptable outcome” compared to 91% in the spondylolisthesis group; for “highly effective success criteria,” the rates were 27% and 72%, respectively. Certainly, TDR has a limited or no role in patients who have isthmic spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, and the majority of degenerative spondylolisthesis cases. Several authors have reviewed their lumbar spine surgical practices [4–6] and found that many of their typical surgical patients had contraindications to TDR, most commonly stenosis, spondylolysis, or spondylolisthesis, scoliosis, HNP, osteoporosis, pseudoarthrosis, or insufficient posterior elements. In fact, only 5% of the lumbar surgery patients were felt to be appropriate TDR candidates. The degree of facet arthrosis for which TDR may still be effective is not yet determined, but may not be a major contraindication for TDR in at least one review of lumbar fusion patients [7]. Prior advances of the management of degenerative disk disease have been heralded as potentially revolutionizing its treatment: these include BAK (screw in cages), IDET (intradiscal electrothermal treatment), nucleoplasty, use of bone dowels with bone morphogenetic protein, as well as nuclear replacements, dynamic stabilization, and facet replacement, which are on the horizon. BAK cages, inserted through an anterior approach, were thought to avoid damage to the
M. Szpalski et al. (eds.), Surgery for Low Back Pain, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-04547-9_5.4, © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2010
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Fig. 5.4.1 Patient with failed fusion with BAK cages
posterior musculature and the consequent “fusion disease” [8]. However, with longer than the initial 2-year follow-up by other surgeons, the technique proved to have an unacceptably high pseudoarthrosis rate [9–11] (Fig. 5.4.1) and technically posed significant risk to the adjacent neurovascular structures, especially when working through the recommended tube. IDET and nucleoplasty procedures, although minimally invasive, proved to be highly technique and placement dependent, and the practitioners have narrowed their indications considerably [12–14, 33, 35]. The area of heating was demonstrated to be quite limited, >60°C, sufficient for collagen denaturation, and potentially collagen shrinkage occurred only within 1–2 mm of the catheter surface, while development of temperature adequate to ablate nerves was difficult to achieve in clinically relevant regions [15]. The design of the recent lumbar disk replacements has been refined to the point of their having a reasonable ability to restore normal disk kinematics within the limitations of material properties [16–21]. Although wear debris and osteolysis has been problematic in the hip and knee, it appears less concerning in the spine, both clinically as well as in biomechanical testing [22, 23], although clinical data are only midterm in duration. Another concern about lumbar fusions was the risk of accelerated degeneration at the adjacent segment. This was classically analyzed in the cervical spine by Hilibrand (1999) but has also been studied in the lumbar spine by Ghiselli [24]. The latter study reviewed 215 patients at an average follow-up of 6.7 years and
found 27.5% to have required decompression or decompression and fusion at an adjacent level. This translated to a rate of symptomatic degeneration of 16.5% at 5 years and 36.1% at 10 years (Fig. 5.4.2). This rate did not appear to increase if more levels were initially fused. These are retrospective studies and it is not clear whether adjacent segment disease is truly accelerated by the fusion or whether it is a continuation of the natural history. It has been observed that ASD occurs more frequently with circumferential fusion and with instrumented fusions, which may imply these stiffer constructs may lead to have ASD, however, the commonly used pedicle screws and their linkage to the longitudinal rod are generally in immediate proximity to the facet above and may cause damage. At this point in time, the data available comparing lumbar fusion to TDR with regard to adjacent segment disease are too early to demonstrate whether preserving motion will be protective or avoid accelerating ASD [34, 36]. The early Prodisc cases performed by the inventor surgeon have been analyzed, and it has been found that 24% of the 42 patients reviewed had radiographic evidence of ASF (loss of disk space height, anterior osteophyte formation, or dynamic instability at an average of 8.7 years after TDR) [25, 37]. They found that patients with motion of 5° at the level of the TDR had no ASD compared to 34% of patients whose TDR had less than 5°, although there was no difference in clinical outcomes. Although suggestive, comparative data for a 10 year or similar time frame, such as will be available in the US FDA studies for Charite, Prodisc,
5.4 Limitations of Lumbar Disk Arthroplasty
a
d
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b
c
e
Fig. 5.4.2 (a and b) Radiographs from healthy 46-year-old female, with degenerative spondylolisthesis refractory to conservative treatment; (c) lateral MRI, T2 weighed image, demonstrating spinal stenosis; (d, e) radiographs postop, showing radiographic
f
fusion. Patient has returned to full activities, including sports; (f) radiographs 11 years postop show advanced degeneration at adjacent L3–4 level; (g) radiographs after successful revision with proximal decompression and proximal extension of fusion
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Fig. 5.4.2 (continued)
and others, will be needed to demonstrate whether or not use of TDR will affect the incidence of ASD. Published series from Europe are favorable although nonrandomized, with up to 90% of patients reporting good to excellent results, including some patients followed for at least 10 years [26]. Although most surgeons who have experience with TDR have a significant number of patients who feel the surgery improves their symptoms significantly, it is important to review the data from the US FDA studies critically. The defined criteria for “success” included at least 25% improvement of the Oswestry score compared to preoperative scores, no device failures, no neurologic loss, which had a 57% success rate among the Charité patients completing the study, compared to
47% of controls [27]. Likewise, for Prodisc, overall success was 53% for Prodisc patients compared to 41% of the control patients [28]. Even if one simply looks at functional improvement as measured by Oswestry Disability score, which may be the most important thing for a patient, the results were 64% of the Charité patients achieved 25% improvement compared to 50% of the controls. Among the Charité patients, 71% of them were satisfied at 2 years, compared to 59% of the control patients [27], which approached but did not reach statistical significance. The results from the Prodisc study are similar with 77% of the Prodisc patients achieving at least the prescribed 15% improvement compared to 63% of controls [28]. Given McAfee’s recent determination of the rotational instability of the lumbar disk arthroplasty [29], a surgeon certainly needs to be cautious about addressing multiple level disease. His study was sparked by the referral of an “alarming number of cases” in whom iatrogenic lumbar rotational instability developed (Fig. 5.4.3). In addition, its potential role in treating cases with even mild to moderate scoliosis may be questionable. Why are the results so variable for this patient population? Some patients are clearly benefited by this surgery (Fig. 5.4.4), while others see minimal to no benefit. The indications for surgery in the FDA studies were clearly as strict as our current knowledge allows, which suggests that we do not understand what factors are different in those who had poor outcomes. Research continues in an effort to improve our understanding of painful degenerative disk disease. Alamin et al are working with Functional Anesthetic Discography. We and others have looked with specialized imaging techniques combined with biochemical and histologic analysis to better understand this condition.
5.4 Limitations of Lumbar Disk Arthroplasty
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a
c
b
d
Fig. 5.4.3 (a) Preoperative AP radiographs of patient with discogenic back pain. Minimal coronal deformity noted. (b) Six weeks after 2-level Charité, performed in Europe, clear rotational and lateral deformity has developed. She had moderate improvement of back pain for several weeks after her index surgery. Note relative posterior placement of L5-S1 device. (c) Patient returned to her surgeon in Europe, who performed L4–5 Dynesys. Patient had minimal improvement of back and
leg pain (d) with worsening leg and back pain, patient underwent revision. Posterior exploration was performed first, with exposure and neurolysis of inferior end plate from thecal sac, placement of pedicle screws. Anterior removal of L5-S1 Charité was then performed with interbody allograft plus BMP fusion. Posterior rod placement and fusion completed the surgery. Patient has had 75% relief of leg pain and about 50% relief of back pain
204 Fig. 5.4.4 (a) 35-year-old male with 2-year history of LBP refractory to conservative care. Radiographs show narrowing of L5-S1 disk space. MRI shows L5-S1 degeneration with Modic changes. Discography (not shown) concordant at L5-S1, with negative control level. (b) Patient underwent L5-S1 Prodisc placement, with 90% relief of his back pain
S. S. Hu
a
b
References 1. Boden SD, Davis DO, Dina TS et al (1990) Abnormal magnetic-resonance scans of the lumbar spine in asymptomatic subjects. A prospective investigation. J Bone Joint Surg Am 72(3):403–408 2. Carragee EJ (2000) Is lumbar discography a determinate of discogenic low back pain: provocative discography reconsidered. Curr Rev Pain 4(4):301–308
3. Carragee EJ, Alamin TF, Miller JL et al (2005) Discographic, MRI and psychosocial determinants of low back pain disability and remission: a prospective study in subjects with benign persistent back pain. Spine J 5(1):24–35 4. Chin KR (2007) Epidemiology of indications and contraindications to total disc replacement in an academic practice. Spine J 7(4):392–398 5. Fras CI, Auerbach JD (2008) Prevalence of lumbar total disc replacement candidates in a community-based spinal surgery practice. J Spinal Disord Tech 21(2):126–129
5.4 Limitations of Lumbar Disk Arthroplasty 6. Huang RC, Lim MR, Girardi FP et al (2004) The prevalence of contraindications to total disc replacement in a cohort of lumbar surgical patients. Spine 29(22):2538–2541 7. Wong DA, Annesser B, Birney T et al (2007) Incidence of contraindications to total disc arthroplasty: a retrospective review of 100 consecutive fusion patients with a specific analysis of facet arthrosis. Spine J 7(1):5–11 8. Kuslich SD, Danielson G, Dowdle JD et al (2000) Four-year follow-up results of lumbar spine arthrodesis using the Bagby and Kuslich lumbar fusion cage. Spine 25(20): 2656–2662 9. Button G, Gupta M, Barrett C et al (2005) Three- to six-year follow-up of stand-alone BAK cages implanted by a single surgeon. Spine J 5(2):155–160 10. McAfee PC, Cunningham BW, Lee GA et al (1999) Revision strategies for salvaging or improving failed cylindrical cages. Spine 24(20):2147–2153 11. McAfee PC, Lee GA, Fedder IL et al (2002) Anterior BAK instrumentation and fusion: complete versus partial discectomy. Clin Orthop Relat Res 394:55–63 12. Cohen SP, Williams S, Kurihara C et al (2005) Nucleoplasty with or without intradiscal electrothermal therapy (IDET) as a treatment for lumbar herniated disc. J Spinal Disord Tech 18(Suppl):S119–S124 13. Freeman BJ (2006) IDET: a critical appraisal of the evidence. Eur Spine J 15(Suppl 3):S448–S457 14. Maurer P, Block JE, Squillante D (2008) Intradiscal electrothermal therapy (IDET) provides effective symptom relief in patients with discogenic low back pain. J Spinal Disord Tech 21(1):55–62 15. Kleinstueck FS, Diederich CJ, Nau WH et al (2003) Temperature and thermal dose distributions during intradiscal electrothermal therapy in the cadaveric lumbar spine. Spine 28(15):1700–1708; discussion 1709 16. Auerbach JD, Wills BP, McIntosh TC et al (2007) Evaluation of spinal kinematics following lumbar total disc replacement and circumferential fusion using in vivo fluoroscopy. Spine 32(5):527–536 17. Cunningham BW, Gordon JD, Dmitriev AE et al (2003) Biomechanical evaluation of total disc replacement arthroplasty: an in vitro human cadaveric model. Spine 28(20): S110–S117 18. Cunningham BW, McAfee PC, Geisler FH et al (2008) Distribution of in vivo and in vitro range of motion following 1-level arthroplasty with the CHARITE artificial disc compared with fusion. J Neurosurg Spine 8(1):7–12 19. O’Leary P, Nicolakis M, Lorenz MA et al (2005) Response of Charité total disc replacement under physiologic loads: prosthesis component motion patterns. Spine J 5(6):590–599 20. Rohlmann A, Zander T, Bergmann G (2005) Effect of total disc replacement with ProDisc on intersegmental rotation of the lumbar spine. Spine 30(7):738–743 21. Rousseau MA, Bradford DS, Bertagnoli R et al (2006) Disc arthroplasty design influences intervertebral kinematics and facet forces. Spine J 6(3):258–266 22. Cunningham BW (2004) Basic scientific considerations in total disc arthroplasty. Spine J 4(6 Suppl):219S–230S 23. Rawlinson JJ, Punga KP, Gunsallus KL et al (2007) Wear simulation of the ProDisc-L disc replacement using adaptive finite element analysis. J Neurosurg Spine 7(2):165–173
205 24. Ghiselli G, Wang JC, Bhatia NN et al (2004) Adjacent segment degeneration in the lumbar spine. J Bone Joint Surg Am 86-A(7):1497–1503 25. Huang RC, Tropiano P, Marnay T et al (2006) Range of motion and adjacent level degeneration after lumbar total disc replacement. Spine J 6(3):242–247 26. Lemaire JP, Carrier H, Sariali W et al (2005) Clinical and radiological outcomes with the Charité artificial disc: a 10-year minimum follow-up. J Spinal Disord Tech 18(4): 353–359 27. Blumenthal S, McAfee PC, Guyer RD et al (2005) A prospective, randomized, multicenter Food and Drug Admin istration investigational device exemptions study of lumbar total disc replacement with the CHARITE artificial disc versus lumbar fusion: part I: evaluation of clinical outcomes. Spine 30(14):1565–1575; discussion E387 28. Zigler J, Delamarter R, Spivak JM et al (2007) Results of the prospective, randomized, multicenter Food and Drug Administration investigational device exemption study of the ProDisc-L total disc replacement versus circumferential fusion for the treatment of 1-level degenerative disc disease. Spine 32(11):155–162; discussion 1163 29. McAfee PC, Cunningham BW, Hayes V et al (2006) Biomechanical analysis of rotational motions after disc arthroplasty: implications for patients with adult deformities. Spine 31(19 Suppl):S152–S160 30. Carragee EJ, Alamin TF, Miller J et al (2002) Provocative discography in volunteer subjects with mild persistent low back pain. Spine J 2(1):25–34 31. Carragee EJ, Lincoln T, Parmar VS et al (2006) A gold standard evaluation of the “discogenic pain” diagnosis as determined by provocative discography. Spine 31(18): 2115–2123 32. Davis TT, Delamarter RB, Sra P et al (2004) The IDET procedure for chronic discogenic low back pain. Spine 29(7): 752–756 33. Freeman BJ, Fraser RD, Cain CM et al (2005) A randomized, double-blind, controlled trial: intradiscal electrothermal therapy versus placebo for the treatment of chronic discogenic low back pain. Spine 30(21):2369–2377; discussion 2378 34. McAfee PC, Cunningham B, Holsapple G, et al (2005) A prospective, randomized, multicenter Food and Drug Administration investigational device exemption study of lumbar total disc replacement with the CHARITE artificial disc versus lumbar fusion: part II: evaluation of radiographic outcomes and correlation of surgical technique accuracy with clinical outcomes. Spine 30(14):1576–1583; discussion E388 35. Saal JA, Saal JS (2002) Intradiscal electrothermal treatment for chronic discogenic low back pain: prospective outcome study with a minimum 2-year follow-up. Spine 27(9):966–973; discussion 973 36. Siepe CJ, Mayer HM, Wiechert K et al (2006) Clinical results of total lumbar disc replacement with ProDisc II: three-year results for different indications. Spine 31(17):1923–1932 37. Thierry D (2007) Long-term results of one-level lumbar arthroplasty: minimum 10-year follow-up of the CHARITE artificial disc in 106 patients. Spine 32(6):661–666
Is Posterior Dynamic Stabilization an Option to Avoid Adjacent Segment Decompensation?
5.5
Missoum Moumene and Jürgen Harms
Introduction Degenerative disk disease (DDD) at the level adjacent to an immobilized (fused) spinal segment is a wellrecognized condition [1–4] which is believed to result from the supraphysiological biomechanical stress and increased range of motion (ROM) created at that level by the fusion [1]. This may be caused by the patient’s postoperative attempt to achieve similar ROM as before surgery [5]. It is therefore hypothesized that topping a fusion with a posterior dynamic stabilization (PDS) system at the level adjacent to a fusion may diminish these increased stress and ROM, and subsequently, reduce the incidence of adjacent-level disk disease. The overall concept of PDS is viewed as potentially beneficial not only for topping off a fusion, but also as an alternative to fusion for patients with specific back problems, such as stenosis, facet pain, and DDD [6]. However, no research has been conducted to date to determine the desirable degree of motion control and disk/facet unloading needed to achieve meaningful clinical results. Despite this limitation, a wide variety of PDS systems are currently in various stages of development and clinical investigation. Similar to an internal brace, the PDS is intended to work in parallel with the segmental structural element, transferring the load from one vertebra to the other. We hypothesized that a PDS system with a stiffness equivalent to that of an intact spinal segment would effectively share the load with the disk and the facet joints,
M. Moumene (*) Department of Research and Development, DePuy Spine Inc., Raynham, MA, USA e-mail:
[email protected] while maintaining 50% of the intact segment motion at the operated level. In this study, the residual ROM of a spinal segment instrumented with the Dynarod PDS system was evaluated and compared to that of a spinal segment instrumented with Dynesys, Nflex, and PEEK rods. In addition, the residual ROM of a Dynarodstabilized spinal segment after discectomy or bilateral facetectomy was also evaluated.
Hypotheses 1. A PDS with a stiffness equivalent to that of an intact spinal segment would reduce the ROM of an instrumented spinal level to 50% of that observed in an intact spine and share 50% of the load with the structural element. 2. A PDS with a stiffness equivalent to that of an intact spinal segment might be sufficient to stabilize a spinal motion segment. 3. Topping off a fusion with a PDS may provide some protection against fusion-induced adjacent-level degeneration.
Study Objectives 1. To create and validate a three-dimensional finite element model (FE-Model) of the human osseoligamentous lumbar spine. 2. To use the validated FE-Model to investigate the impact of PDS instrumentation in stabilizing the spine and protecting levels adjacent to a fusion.
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Materials and Methods The validity of load sharing and ROM calculations as related to PDS’ biomechanical function depends on the precision of the FE-Model utilized for the analyses. In this study, we used two FE-Models as follows:
L4–L5 FE-Model This model was used to optimize an appropriate design for PDS and investigate other PDS currently in clinical trials, using Load control.
L1-S1 FE-Model This model was used to evaluate the biomechanical effect of a PDS topping off fusion using displacement control (Hybrid test method) FE-Models The 3D nonlinear FE-Model of the intact ligamentous L4–L5 motion segment validated in all six degrees of freedom (DOF) was used for PDS design optimization [7]. The model was expanded to an L1-S1 FE-Model for the biomechanical study of a PDS topping off fusion. The 3D geometry of L1, L2, L3 was adapted from the model of L4 using vertebrae’s three-dimensional anatomy [8]. The facet joint morphologies, a critical articulation, were derived from studies by Panjabi et al. [9] and Grobler et al. [10]. The curvature of the lumbar lordosis was created based on Bogduk [11] using Hypermesh (Altair Engineering Inc.) to position each vertebra. The intervertebral disks were created between vertebrae using the adjacent superior and inferior surfaces of the vertebral bodies. A finite element package (ANSYS, version 11; Swanson Analysis System) was used to formulate the FE-Model. The finite element model (FEM) included all the critical components of the spine: cortical and cancellous bone; endplates; annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disks; articular cartilage; synovial fluid of the facet joints; anterior longitudinal ligament; posterior longitudinal ligament; intertransverse ligament; ligament flavum; capsular ligament;
M. Moumene and J. Harms
supraspinous ligament; and interspinous ligament. Material properties of these various tissues were selected from the literature and are summarized elsewhere [7].
Implanted Model Formulation An intact L4–L5 model, as well as L4–L5 models instrumented with Dynarod, Dynesys, and Nflex, was used in this study (Fig. 5.5.1). Three-dimensional models of each device were built and included in the FE analyses. The Dynarod, made of an alloy of nickel and titanium (Nitinol), was designed to mimic the stiffness of an intact spinal segment. This was achieved by optimizing the cross-section of the nitinol rod to achieve these desired biomechanical properties. The stiffness of the Dynesys and Nflex was modeled based on the manufacturers’ specifications. A 5.5-mm PEEK rod was used in this study. Nflex, Dynarod, and PEEK rods were placed along the functional spinal unit (FSU) without distraction. For the Dynesys system, a distraction of 2 mm was applied using a spacer. The cord was tightened to 300 N bringing the FSU to its preinstrumentation position. All pedicle screws were rigidly fixed to the vertebrae. A 7.5 Nm moment was applied to the intact and instrumented spinal models in
Intact
Dynarod
Dynesys
Nflex
Fig. 5.5.1 FE-Models of intact and instrumented L4–L5 segments with Dynarod, Dynesys, and Nflex
5.5 Is Posterior Dynamic Stabilization an Option to Avoid Adjacent Segment Decompensation?
flexion-extension, axial rotation, and lateral bending while under a compressive follower load of 400 N. The interpedicular displacement – a measure of spine segment ROM – was predicted for the intact and the instrumented models in all directions.
Segment Stabilization Using Dynarod The intact L4–L5 model was modified to simulate the instability caused by a discectomy or a bilateral facetectomy. Discectomy was modeled by removing a portion of the annulus from the posterior lateral side of the disk, while bilateral facetectomy was modeled by removing the facets and the capsular ligaments. The instable models were instrumented with Dynarod PDS system. A 7.5 Nm moment was applied to all modalities while under a compressive follower load of 400 N. The interpedicular displacement was predicted for the intact and for the instable models before and after instrumentation with Dynarod PDS system in all directions.
PDS Topping off Fusion The intact L1-S1 model was adapted to simulate fusion at L4–L5 and a PDS topping the fusion at L3–L4 (Fig. 5.5.2). The fusion was simulated using a bone
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graft spacer and pedicle screws with 5.5 mm titanium rods. The PDS was simulated using a pedicle screwbased system with a flexible rod (Dynarod) having a stiffness equivalent to that of an intact spinal segment, thereby permitting 50% load sharing with the segment structural element. All articulating surfaces were modeled with contact elements that support compressive load. Imposed displacements in flexion (20°) and extension (15°) were applied to the intact, fused, and PDS-topped models while under a 200 N follower load and 260 N upper body weight. Facet loads, disk pressure, ROM, and screw loosening associated with these modalities were evaluated.
Results ROM of Various PDS Systems The interpedicular displacement for the intact model was estimated at 3.3, 0.4, and 3.3 mm for flexionextension, axial rotation, and lateral bending, respectively. Table 5.5.1 shows the reduction of ROM relative to the intact segment following instrumentation with various PDS devices.
Stabilization with Dynarod PDS System Figures 5.5.3 and 5.5.4 present interpedicular displacements of lumbar segments. In Fig. 5.5.3, the interpedicular displacement of an intact segment is shown alongside that of a segment following discectomy, and a segment following both, discectomy and subsequent
Intact
Fusion
PDS Topping off
Fig. 5.5.2 FE-Models of: intact L1-S1 segments, L1-S1 segments with fusion at L4–L5, and L1-S1 segments with fusion at L4–L5, and posterior dynamic stabilization (PDS) topping off the fusion at L3–L4
Table 5.5.1 Remaining range of motion (ROM) following instrumentation with various PDS devices, relative to intact segment Device Remaining ROM as percent of intact FlexionAxial Lateral extension (%) rotation (%) bending (%) Dynarod
45
53
48
Dynesys
10
3
7
Nflex
11
17
8
PEEK
0
0
0
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M. Moumene and J. Harms
Inter-Pedicle Displ. (mm)
2
1.9
2.1
PDS Topping off a Fusion
1.9 1.7
1.7 1.5
1.3
1
0.9
0.7
0.8
0.5 0.2 0.2 0
Flex
Ext
Intact
0.1 LB
AR Discectomy
PDS
Fig. 5.5.3 Interpedicle displacement of: (1) an intact segment; (2) a segment following discectomy; and (3) a segment following discectomy and subsequent instrumentation with a Dynarod PDS
3.1
Intact
Interpedicular Displ. (mm)
3
Facetectomy
2.5 2
PDS
1.9 2.0
1.7 1.7
1.5
1.3
1.2
1.1
1
0.8
0.8
0.5
0.3
0.2
0
Flex
Ext
AR
LB
Fig. 5.5.4 Interpedicle displacement of: (1) an intact segment; (2) a segment following bilateral facetectomy; and (3) a segment following bilateral facetectomy and subsequent instrumentation with a Dynarod PDS
instrumentation with PDS. Figure 5.5.4 shows the interpedicular displacement of an intact segment, a segment following bilateral facetectomy, as well as a segment following bilateral facetectomy and subsequent instrumentation with PDS. After discectomy, extension ROM increased by 30%. Stabilization of the segment with Dynarod controlled the ROM to 70% vs. that of an intact segment (i.e.; nondiscectomized). Bilateral facetectomy increased ROM predominantly in extension and axial rotation by 135 and 450%, respectively. Adding Dynarod, the corresponding ROM was reduced to 79 and 140% vs. that of an intact segment.
The interpedicular displacement at L4–L5 in the intact model was estimated at 4.0, 3.7, and 2.1 mm for flexion-extension, axial rotation, and lateral bending, respectively. The corresponding interpedicular displacement at L3–L4 was estimated at 4.7, 2.0, and 2.6 mm. Following a fusion at L4–L5, the motion at the adjacent level (L3–L4) was increased by 18% (see Table 5.5.2). Instrumentation of this level with a Dynarod PDS decreased that motion by 54% vs. that observed in a segment adjacent to a normal (nonfusion) segment. The results for axial rotation and lateral bending followed similar patterns, as shown in Table 5.5.2. Facet loading was also evaluated to determine the potential impact of PDS on long-term adjacent-level degeneration. For this analysis, facet loads were normalized against those observed in a normal spine, without fusion and/or PDS instrumentation. Following a fusion at L4–L5, facet loading at the adjacent (L3–L4) level increased by 45% in extension vs. facet loads observed adjacent to normal, nonfused segments (see Table 5.5.3). Adding a Dynarod PDS to the L3–L4 segment reduced that facet loading by 26% vs. that of the normal spine. Similar trends were observed in axial rotation and lateral bending, as shown in Table 5.5.3. In both cases, a PDS topping off a fusion reduced facet loads at adjacent levels. Table 5.5.2 Relative ROM (%) at the level adjacent to a fusion, as compared to the ROM observed in a normal spinal segment (without fusion and without PDS instrumentation) Procedure FlexionAxial Lateral extension rotation bending Fusion only
+18
+31
+8
PDS topping off fusion
−54
−44
−50
Table 5.5.3 Relative facet loading (%) at the level adjacent to a fusion, as compared to facet loading in normal spinal segments (without fusion or PDS instrumentation) Procedure Flexion Extension Axial Lateral rotation bending Fusion only
0
+45
+13
+24
PDS topping off fusion
0
−26
−27
−53
5.5 Is Posterior Dynamic Stabilization an Option to Avoid Adjacent Segment Decompensation? Table 5.5.4 Relative intradiscal pressure (%) at the level adjacent to a fusion, as compared to the intradiscal pressure in normal spinal segments (without fusion or PDS instrumentation) Procedure Flexion Extension Axial Lateral rotation bending Fusion only
+10
+5
−1
−4
PDS topping off fusion
+5
−50
−14
−10
Finally, intradiscal pressure at levels adjacent to a fusion (L3–L4) was also analyzed using: (1) a normal segment, (2) a segment with a L4–L5 fusion, as well as (3) a segment with a L4–L5 fusion and a L3–L4 PDS instrumentation (Table 5.5.4). In the fusion model, a 10% increase in adjacentlevel intradiscal pressure vs. normal was observed in flexion. With the PDS, this intradiscal pressure decreased such that the final pressure at L3–L4 was only 5% greater than that observed in a normal case. The decreases in intradiscal pressure following PDS instrumentation were much greater in extension (50% reduction), axial rotation (14% reduction), and lateral bending (10% reduction), as shown in Fig. 5.5.4. With regard to bone screw loading, the PDS system reduced the screw bending load by 40%, as compared to that observed using a rigid titanium rod.
Conclusions Various PDS systems are being introduced to the spinal community at increasing rates, yet this is the first research done to date to try to determine the adequate biomechanics of a PDS design to achieve meaningful clinical results. The most important rationales for the development of these devices are: 1. Stabilizing the spinal motion segment, without fusing the segment. 2. Preventing the long-term adverse effect of fusion, namely the accelerated adjacent-level degeneration. A pedicle screw-based PDS system with a stiffness equivalent to that of an intact spinal segment was shown to be sufficient to stabilize the spine while preserving 50% of the intact ROM, consequently reducing the load on its structural element. The Dynesys,
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Nflex, and PEEK rods, on the other hand, reduced nearly all of the ROM at the instrumented level, thereby acting as fusion devices, not as PDS systems. In this hybrid test model, topping off a fusion with a PDS system that has a stiffness equivalent to that of an intact spine segment was shown to relieve facet loading and reduce intradiscal pressure on adjacent segments. Assuming that these loads contribute to adjacent-level disk disease, these data indicate that PDS topping of a fusion may provide some protection against fusion-induced adjacent-level degeneration. In addition, reduced bone screw interface loading further suggests that PDS may be an option to avoid adjacent segment decompensation. Limitations of this study are those of the displacement control test method. This method, being a finite element study, does not and cannot simulate the effect of adaptation that may occur over many years after implantation of a device in a patient.
References 1. Eck JC, Humphreys SC, Hodges SD (1999) Adjacent-segment degeneration after lumbar fusion: a review of clinical, biomechanical, and radiologic studies. Am J Orthop 28(6):336–340 2. Ghiselli G et al (2004) Adjacent segment degeneration in the lumbar spine. J Bone Joint Surg Am 86-A(7):1497–1503 3. Lee CK (1988) Accelerated degeneration of the segment adjacent to a lumbar fusion. Spine 13(3):375–377 4. Park P et al (2004) Adjacent segment disease after lumbar or lumbosacral fusion: review of the literature. Spine 29(17): 1938–1944 5. Panjabi MM (2007) Hybrid multidirectional test method to evaluate spinal adjacent-level effects. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 22(3):257–265 6. Sengupta DK (2004) Dynamic stabilization devices in the treatment of low back pain. Orthop Clin North Am 35(1):43–56 7. Moumene M, Geisler FH (2007) Comparison of biomechanical function at ideal and varied surgical placement for two lumbar artificial disc implant designs: mobile-core versus fixed-core. Spine 32(17):1840–1851 8. Panjabi MM et al (1992) Human lumbar vertebrae. Quantitative three-dimensional anatomy. Spine 17(3):299–306 9. Panjabi MM et al (1993) Articular facets of the human spine. Quantitative three-dimensional anatomy. Spine 18(10): 1298–1310 10. Grobler LJ et al (1993) Etiology of spondylolisthesis. Assessment of the role played by lumbar facet joint morphology. Spine 18(1):80–91 11. Bogduk N (1999) Clinical anatomy of the lumbar spine and scrum 3rd edn. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh London New York Philadelphia Toronto, pp 55–59
Immediate Biomechanical Effects of Lumbar Posterior Dynamic Stabilisation
5.6
Brian J. C. Freeman and Caspar E. W. Aylott
Introduction The current premise, on which spinal fusion is offered to patients with a painful lumbar motion segment, is that the pain arises secondary to abnormal motion or “instability”. By the elimination of this motion, one hopes to eliminate the pain. However, results following spinal fusion are far from predictable, with reported satisfactory clinical results ranging from 46 to 82% [1, 2]. Furthermore, many patients complain of postural or positional pain occurring without motion, suggesting that low back pain may have aetiologies relating to abnormal load transmission rather than abnormal kinematics. The normal intervertebral disc is isotropic, i.e. behaving as a fluid-filled bag, transmitting load uniformly across the surface of the disc to the end plate [3]. The degenerate intervertebral disc, however, becomes anisotropic or non-homogenous with areas of fragmented and condensed collagen, fluid and gas [4]. Load transmission across the end plate of a degenerate disc therefore becomes uneven. The loads across the disc space are now highly dependent on position. McNally et al. correlated changes in the pattern of loading in vivo across a degenerate intervertebral disc with pain on provocative lumbar discography [5]. Mulholland et al. proposed the concept of the “stone in the shoe”, where pain in a specific posture arises from a degenerate disc largely due to abnormal load transmission [6]. Altering this posture may result in the “stone in the shoe” B. J. C. Freeman (*) Department of Spinal Surgery, Level 3, Theatre Block, Royal Adelaide Hospital, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia e-mail:
[email protected] moving to a point of less load transmission and therefore less pain. It has been well documented that abnormal load transmission may result in degenerative changes in synovial joints such as the hip and the knee. An appropriately placed osteotomy that reduces point loading is often successful in alleviating such pain [7]. It would seem reasonable to assume therefore that altering load transmission across a degenerate disc may similarly result in the alleviation of such pain. Furthermore, these changes could be accomplished without the loss of movement in the motion segment. This type of argument has been used to promote the use of dynamic stabilisation devices. Such devices may offload the intervertebral disc by a process of load sharing and limiting abnormal motion, so that painful positions are not experienced [8]. In addition by preserving motion, dynamic stabilisation may, in some way, protect the adjacent level intervertebral disc.
Clinical Results The Dynesys posterior dynamic stabilisation device (Zimmer Spine, Minneapolis, Minnesota) was developed by Gilles Dubois and first implanted in 1994 [9] (Fig. 5.6.1a, b). The system consists of pedicle screws, polycarbonate urethane spacers and a polyethyleneterephthalate cord. Posterior dynamic stabilisation seeks to allow some movement across the symptomatic motion segment but to restrict abnormal motion. Stoll et al. in a prospective multi-centre study evaluated safety and efficacy of Dynesys for the treatment of lumbar instability conditions in a consecutive series of 83 patients [9]. Indications included unstable segmental
M. Szpalski et al. (eds.), Surgery for Low Back Pain, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-04547-9_5.6, © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2010
213
214 Fig. 5.6.1 (a) Anteroposterior; and (b) lateral radiographs showing Dynesys stabilisation between L3 and S1. The polyethyleneterephthalate cord and spacer are radiolucent, and therefore, not seen on the radiographs. This patient had intractable low back pain, disc degeneration in the lower three lumbar discs on MRI, with positive lumbar discography of the lower three lumbar discs. The L2-3 discogram (control) was negative
B. J. C. Freeman and C. E. W. Aylott
a
conditions, mainly combined with spinal stenosis (60.2%), degenerative discopathy (24.1%), disc herniation (8.4%) and revision surgery (6.0%). Thirty-nine of the 83 patients had a degenerative spondylolisthesis and 30 patients had undergone some form of previous lumbar surgery. In 56 of these 83 patients, dynamic stabilisation was combined with direct spinal decompression. A mean follow-up period of 38.1 months was achieved (range 11.2–79.1 months). The mean visual analogue score (VAS) for low back pain improved from 7.4 to 3.1, the mean VAS for leg pain improved from 6.9 to 2.4 and the mean Oswestry disability index (ODI) improved from 55.4 to 22.9. Nine of eight-three patients suffered complications unrelated to the implant including incidental durotomy (2), infection (1), motor weakness (1), dysaesthesia (1), seroma (1), neuroma (1), cardiovascular (1) and thromboembolic complications (1). Complications relating to the implant included two screw misplacements (one requiring re-position) and eight screw loosenings evident on radiographs. A further 11 of 83 required subsequent additional surgery including implant removal, extension of Dynesys, decompression of adjacent segment and laminectomy of the index segment. Grob et al. studied 31 patients who underwent dynamic stabilisation [10]. The primary indications included spinal stenosis, spondylosis, disc degeneration, failed back surgery and degenerative spondylolisthesis. Forty-two percent of this cohort underwent
b
decompression surgery, in addition to Dynesys instrumentation. With an average follow-up of 2.8 years (2–3.6 years), the mean VAS for back pain reduced from 7.0 (SD 2.1) to 4.7 (SD 3.2). The mean VAS for leg pain reduced from 6.6 (SD 2.4) to 3.8 (SD 3.6). When assessing global outcome, 29% of patients said that the procedure had “helped a lot”, 23% stated it had “helped”, 10% said the procedure “only helped a little”, 35% stated the procedure “didn’t help” and 3% claimed to be worse. Overall, approximately two-thirds of patients reported some improvement in their leg/back pain; however, only 40% reported an improvement in their ability to perform physical activity, and just 50% reported an improvement in quality of life. Six of thirtyone (19%) required re-intervention or were being investigated with a view to re-intervention within 2 years. Grob et al. commented that the overall results following dynamic stabilisation were poorer compared to historical controls that had undergone fusion for similar indications. He concluded stating there was still insufficient evidence to suggest that semi-rigid fixation of the lumbar spine resulted in better patient-oriented outcomes when compared to spinal fusion. Welch et al. reported the 1-year preliminary results in clinical outcomes following insertion of the Dynesys dynamic neutralisation system in 106 patients [11]. This study forms part of a multi-centre randomised prospective Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigational device exemption (IDE) clinical study.
5.6 Immediate Biomechanical Effects of Lumbar Posterior Dynamic Stabilisation
To date, 101 patients from six IDE sites underwent dynamic stabilisation of the lumbo-sacral spine with the Dynesys construct. Indications for surgery included degenerative spondylolisthesis or retrolisthesis (Grade I), lateral or central spinal stenosis and their physicians’ determination that the patient required decompression and instrumented fusion for one or two contiguous spinal levels between L1 and S1. Clinical outcomes were measured using a traditional VAS for low back and leg pain, and ODI and general health were assessed with the Short Form 12 questionnaire (SF-12). Preliminary results reported for the 101 patient cohort, mean age of 56.3 (range 27–79 years), demonstrated a reduction in the VAS for leg pain from 80.3 to 25.5, a reduction in the VAS for low back pain from 54 to 29.4 and a reduction in the ODI from 55.6 to 26.3 at 12 months. While these results are encouraging, it should be noted that no results are presented for those patients undergoing fusion within this multi-centre randomised prospective trial and, in addition, the follow-up is extremely short at 12 months. One looks forward to the study being completed and the full results being reported. It appears that outcome following dynamic stabilisation remains highly variable. Clearly, authors are reporting different indications for surgery. The number of patients having combined decompression and dynamic stabilisation also varies. These confounding factors make direct comparison of different studies very difficult. Based on promising preliminary findings, dynamic stabilisation now enjoys wide clinical application in Europe, despite the fact that its mechanism of action is still far from clear. This paper seeks to explore the biomechanical effects of lumbar posterior dynamic stabilisation by literature review. In doing so, it may provide further insight into mechanisms of action and perhaps define technical details that may result in superior outcome for some patients.
Biomechanical Effects of Lumbar Posterior Dynamic Stabilisation Schmoelz et al. in a cadaveric study compared intersegmental motions of the intact specimen with those of the dynamic stabilisation system and those of an internal fixator specifically to investigate the effects of both
215
stabilisation methods on the adjacent segment [12]. Six fresh frozen lumbar spines were used for testing. The soft tissues were dissected and the lumbar spine from L2-L5 was fixed in polymethyl-methacrylate cement in such a manner that the L3-L4 disc was in the horizontal plane. The specimens were placed in the spine tester and loaded with pure moments of ±10 Nm in all the three principle motion planes (flexion/extension, lateral bending and axial rotation). Moments were applied continuously with a constant rate of 1°/s. The specimens were not constrained in any way and motion was recorded using a 3-dimensional ultrasound-based motion analysis system. Four situations were studied as follows:1. The intact spine. 2. The de-stabilised spine (a controlled defect was created at the L3-L4 segment). 3. Subsequent stabilisation of the defect at L3-L4 with the dynamic stabilisation system. 4. Stabilisation of the defect in L3-L4 with an internal fixator. The range of motion (ROM) and the neutral zone (NZ) for both the bridged and the adjacent segments were determined. Regarding the bridged segment, for all three planes of motion, the de-stabilised spine showed an increase in the ROM in the NZ compared with the intact spine. Both the Dynesys and the internal fixator reduced the ROM and NZ below that of the intact spine for lateral bend and flexion. In extension, the ROM for the Dynesys was in the range of the intact spine, while the internal fixator showed a decrease in the ROM. In axial rotation, the internal fixator stabilised the segment to a ROM below the magnitude of the intact spine, whereas the Dynesys stabilised the defect, but showed an increased ROM compared with the intact spine. With regard to the adjacent segment, in general, the ROM in the NZ of the adjacent segments was not affected by the instrumentation of the bridged segment. The results appear to suggest that the dynamic neutralisation system is capable of stabilising an unstable segment sufficiently, but allows more motion in the bridged segment compared to the internal fixator. The adjacent segment does not seem to be influenced by the stiffness of the fixation procedure, under the described loading conditions. Niosi et al. carried out a 3-dimensional kinematic evaluation of the Dynesys system and specifically
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looked at the influence of spacer length on the kinematic behaviour at the implanted level [13]. The authors used ten fresh frozen cadaveric lumbar spine segments from L2-L5. The L2 and L5 vertebrae were potted in dental stone, such that the L3-L4 disc space remained horizontal. Three-dimensional flexibility tests were conducted on each of the specimens under five different conditions as follows:1. Intact spine. 2. Injured spine at L3-4 (partial facetectomy. Resection of supraspinous and interspinous ligament and postero-lateral nucleotomy). 3. Dynesys implant at L3-L4 (standard length spacer). 4. Dynesys implant at L3-L4 (long spacer). 5. Dynesys implant at L3-L4 (short spacer). The spine testing machine applied a maximum pure moment of ±7.5 Nm to the top vertebra, while the specimen was allowed to move in an unconstrained 3-dimensional fashion. This continuous moment was applied at a rate of approximately 1.3°/s in all the three primary directions of loading, namely flexion/extension, lateral bending and axial rotation. All tests were conducted with and without the presence of a compressive follower load of 600 N to simulate physiologic compressive loading in an in vitro spine study. The length of the polycarbonate urethane spacer was determined so that a neutral position of the spine was maintained. Spacer lengths 2 mm longer and 2 mm shorter than this standard length were investigated. During flexibility testing, the position of each vertebra was monitored by rigidly attaching four infrared light emitting diodes to each vertebral body. An opto-electronic camera system was used to measure the three -dimensional coordinates of the markers. For the L3-4 segment, the authors calculated the NZ and ROM around the primary axis of rotation and the helical axis of motion (HAM) for the L3-4 segment over the entire motion. The ROM with the standard length Dynesys spacer was significantly less than the intact and injury conditions in all directions of loading. The injury typically increased the NZ, and implantation of the Dynesys generally reduced the NZ to a magnitude below that of the intact spine. The injury did not cause a significant difference in the position or orientation of the HAM compared to the intact condition. In all loading conditions there was generally an increase in ROM with a long spacer and a reduction in the ROM with a short spacer,
B. J. C. Freeman and C. E. W. Aylott
when compared to the kinematics of the standard length spacer. The NZ was typically greatest with the long spacer and least with the short spacer. There were no significant differences in orientation or location of the HAM between the three spacer lengths. Interestingly, even though ROM was substantially reduced with the implanted Dynesys, a long spacer produced kinematic behaviour that was more similar to that of the intact spine, compared to the other spacer lengths tested. In summary, the magnitude of ROM in all the loading directions with the Dynesys system was significantly lower than that of the intact and injured specimens. Injury typically increased the NZ, but implantation of the Dynesys restored the NZ to a magnitude less than that of the intact spine. Spacer length of the Dynesys did affect the kinematic behaviour. ROM was affected most significantly followed by HAM, and finally, NZ in which no significant differences were observed between the three spacer lengths. Aylott et al. used stress profilometry to assess the influence of Dynesys on both bridged and adjacent intervertebral discs [14]. Twelve cadaveric segments (L3-L5) were dissected and Dynesys instrumentation was inserted in the lower motion segment (L4/5). The specimen was then mounted in Wood’s metal and placed in the materials testing machine (Fig. 5.6.2). A
Fig. 5.6.2 Posterior view L3-L5 cadaveric specimen mounted on the material testing machine. Note Dynesys instrumentation bridging across the L4-L5 interspace
5.6 Immediate Biomechanical Effects of Lumbar Posterior Dynamic Stabilisation
217 Peak sress posterior annulus (PA) (horizontal component)
0.8
Width of functional nucleus (FN) Peak nuclear stress (NP)
0.7
Stress / M Pa
0.6 Peak stress anterior annulus (AA) (horizontal component)
0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0
vertical horizontal
0
10
20
30
40 50 60 Position / mm
70
80
90
100
Fig. 5.6.3 L3-L5 cadaveric specimen mounted on the materials testing machine. Note Dynesys instrumentation across the inferior segment (right of picture) with intra-discal pressure transducer in the superior adjacent disc (left of picture)
Fig. 5.6.4 Example of a stress profile obtained from a nondegenerate intervertebral disc loaded in the neutral position (0°). Note the peak stress in the posterior annulus, nucleus and anterior annulus
preliminary creep cycle was performed. Specimens were compressed to 1 kN in 4° of extension, neutral and 6° of flexion. The stress distribution in the midsagittal and antero-posterolateral (oblique) diameter of both the bridged and the adjacent disc was measured, by withdrawing a miniature pressure transducer across the intervertebral disc (Fig. 5.6.3). Compressive stresses were measured in both vertical and horizontal directions. Testing was conducted without instrumentation and with three different spacer sizes (+2 mm, neutral and −2 mm). Stress profiles were obtained across the disc with instrumentation removed, to check reproducibility of measurement with prolonged testing. The specimen was then subjected to a degeneration load and the above sequence repeated. For each stress profile, peak stress in the anterior annulus, peak stress in the nuclear region, peak stress in the posterior annulus and width of the functional nucleus were measured (Fig. 5.6.4). In the absence of instrumentation, stress peaks in the anterior annulus increased significantly when the load angle was set to 6° of flexion. In extension, stress peaks increased in the posterior annulus. When Dynesys instrumentation was added to the motion segment across L4-5, stress peaks in the anterior annulus were reduced. This was observed in both the flexed and extended postures and was most significant with the −2 mm spacer. The reduction in anterior stress peaks seemed to come at the expense of the posterior annulus, with increased
posterior peaks in neutral and flexed postures. This was most significant with a −2 mm spacer. Regarding the adjacent level, Dynesys instrumentation had little effect (for all loading angles) on either the posterior annulus or the nucleus pulposus. However, stress in the anterior annulus decreased significantly in extension and increased significantly in flexion. Considering the effect of spacer size, the −2 mm spacer increased posterior annulus stresses both in extension and flexion. The +2 mm spacer did not result in large peak stresses in the posterior annulus. In summary, Dynesys instrumentation demonstrated potential to relieve stress peaks in the anterior annulus of the bridged segment, particularly in positions of flexion. Stress distribution through the adjacent disc remained relatively normal when the inferior motion segment was instrumented, suggesting that the adjacent segment was not biomechanically prejudiced following the application of Dynesys. Schmoelz et al. similarly studied the influence of dynamic stabilisation on load bearing of a bridged disc by measuring intra-discal pressure [15]. The aim was to investigate the load transfer through discs bridged with a dynamic or rigid stabilisation system and to evaluate the effect of the stabilisation on the intra-discal pressure of the adjacent segments. Six fresh frozen human lumbar spines (L2-L5) were used. All soft tissues were dissected with the specimens embedded in polymethylmethacrylate cement and subsequently
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mounted on a materials testing machine. Care was taken to align the L3-4 disc in the horizontal plane. A flexible pressure transducer with a 1.2 mm diameter was used to measure intra-discal pressures. The specimens were loaded with pure moments of ±10 Nm in each of the three principle motion planes (flexion/ extension, lateral bend and axial rotation), while the remaining 5° of freedom were allowed to move freely. Four situations were studied as follows:1. Intact spine. 2. De-stabilised spine (controlled defect created at L3-4). 3. Stabilisation of this controlled defect at L3-4 with internal fixation. 4. Stabilisation of this controlled defect at L3-4 with modified Dynesys. In general, compared to the intact spine, stabilising the surgical defect with either the Dynesys instrumentation or the internal fixator resulted in unloading of the bridged disc, both in flexion and extension. There was no substantial difference in the intra-discal pressure of the bridged disc when stabilised by the internal fixator or by the Dynesys instrumentation. With regard to the adjacent disc and under the moment-controlled load protocol used in this study, the effects of stabilisation (either internal fixator or Dynesys instrumentation) on the intra-discal pressure of the adjacent discs were negligible. Cheng et al. studied the immediate biomechanical effects of dynamic stabilisation compared to the traditional rigid rod fixation [16]. Twelve fresh frozen human cadaveric lumbar spines (L1-L5) were acquired for biomechanical testing. Six of the specimens were randomised to the dynamic stabilisation group and six were randomised to the traditional rigid rod fixation group. Spines were mounted on a materials testing machine and tested in flexion/extension bending, lateral bending and axial rotation. Each specimen was subjected to the following sequential treatments ordered from the least invasive to the most invasive treatments for the proposed dynamic stabilisation or traditional rigid rod fixation:1. Intact. 2. De-stabilised (L3-4 discectomy and partial face tectomy). 3. Posterior instrumentation at the index level (L3-L4). 4. Posterior instrumentation extended superiorly (L2-L3 and L3-L4). 5. Posterior instrumentation at the index level (L3-L4) and cage at L3-L4.
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6. Posterior instrumentation extended superiorly (L2-L3) and L3-L4 with cage at L3-L4 – hybrid construct. The spines were aligned in the simulator and ±6 Nm was applied in flexion/extension, axial rotation and lateral bending. The testing was performed at 1°/s with no follower load. For the instrumented segment (L3-L4), flexion/ extension bending and lateral bending were not statistically different between those specimens stabilised with dynamic stabilisation and those stabilised with rigid internal fixation. However, axial rotation for those stabilised with Dynesys demonstrated significantly more rotation compared to those specimens stabilised with rigid internal fixation. For the “adjacent” segment (L2-L3), dynamic stabilisation reduced the ROM by 64% of the intact specimen in flexion/extension bending, compared to 91% reduction of the intact specimen ROM for the traditional pedicle screw system. In lateral bending, dynamic stabilisation reduced motion by 50% compared to 81% for the traditional pedicle screw system. In axial rotation, dynamic stabilisation reduced motion by 10% of intact specimen compared to 49% in those specimens stabilised by posterior pedicle screw system. In each mode of loading, the rigid rod fixation reduced motion in the adjacent segment more than the dynamic posterior stabilisation device for treatment six. For this study, Dynesys appears biomechanically no different compared with rigid rod fixation at the index level under the testing parameters described. What Cheng et al. have demonstrated is that extension of the dynamic stabilisation system to the level above (i.e. L2-3) a circumferential fusion at L3-L4 may help to stabilise the level without excessive rigidity seen with traditional pedicle screw systems. Schulte et al. investigated the effects of dynamic semi-rigid implants on the ROM of lumbar motion segments after decompression using 21 fresh frozen human lumbar spine motion segments [17]. ROM and the NZ were measured in flexion/extension, lateral bending and axial rotation under four conditions via application of a pure-moment load (−5 to +5 Nm). The four conditions investigated were:1. Intact specimen. 2. Decompression (transection of supra and infraspinous ligament, ligamentum flavum, partial laminectomies, partial facetectomies).
5.6 Immediate Biomechanical Effects of Lumbar Posterior Dynamic Stabilisation
3. Decompression plus implantation of Wallis instrumentation. 4. Decompression plus implantation of Dynesys instrumentation. Following decompression, a significant increase in the ROM was observed for flexion/extension, lateral bending and axial rotation. Following insertion of the semirigid devices, a restriction in the ROM in all planes was observed for both the Wallis and Dynesys instrumentation. These biomechanical studies would tend to support the hypothesis that the semi-rigid implants provide a primary stabilising function. Whether they can improve the clinical outcome must be verified by a prospective clinical study. It would be interesting to look at a less aggressive decompression, for example, one carried out using a spinous process osteotomy where the interspinous and supra-spinous ligaments are preserved along with the remnants of the spinous processes, thereby preserving the posterior tension band.
Conclusions Hypotheses regarding the source of low back pain in degenerative disc disease have advanced the theory that abnormal load transmission across the degenerated intervertebral disc may be responsible. Posterior dynamic stabilisation systems may provide benefit comparable to fusion techniques but without the need to eliminate motion. Perceived advantages of dynamic stabilisation include preservation of motion within the bridged segment and also the adjacent segment. In addition, as bone graft is not harvested for dynamic stabilisation of the spine, the morbidity of surgery is reduced. Early clinical studies with Dynesys have reported promising results; however, many investigators have included a broad range of pathology and combined dynamic stabilisation with spinal decompression. Furthermore, considerable variation exists in the precise surgical technique of dynamic stabilisation; in particular the most appropriate spacer length has not yet been described. Other studies have reported much less favourable results following dynamic stabilisation. A well-defined randomised controlled study comparing dynamic stabilisation to spinal fusion for one and twolevel degenerative spondylolisthesis combined with
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spinal stenosis has commenced. The longer-term results are eagerly awaited. This paper has sought to explore the biomechanical effects of lumbar posterior dynamic stabilisation by literature review. In doing so, it has hopefully provided further insight into the possible mechanisms of action and effectiveness of posterior dynamic stabilisation devices. Studies assessing the ROM and NZ in cadaveric specimens have provided biomechanical evidence that posterior dynamic stabilisation of the lumbar spine allows continued inter-segmental motion within the bridged segment. However, this motion is significantly reduced compared to an intact motion segment, and in some studies, not statistically significantly different from that described to the inter-segmental motion observed following a posterior pedicle screw stabilisation. Spacer length is important, with a longer spacer (+2 mm) allowing a greater range of inter-segmental motion within the bridged segment. Regarding the adjacent segment, there is evidence, particularly above a circumferential fusion model as part of a hybrid construct, that Dynesys allows more physiological movement in the adjacent segment when compared to a posterior pedicle screw construct. In a surgically-created decompression model, it has been shown that Dynesys instrumentation leads to a restriction in the ROM, thereby offering a primary stabilising function. Studies assessing intra-discal pressure and stress profilometry in both the bridged and adjacent segment have confirmed that dynamic stabilisation off loads the bridged disc and has the potential to relieve stress peaks in both the anterior and posterior annulus, provided the appropriate spacer length is chosen. Dynamic stabilisation may provide pain relief by altering the transmission of abnormal load across the degenerate intervertebral disc. The intervertebral disc of the adjacent segment appears not to be biomechanically prejudiced (as it may be following a posterior pedicle screw construct), following the application of posterior dynamic stabilisation. Observing immediate biomechanical effects of lumbar posterior dynamic stabilisation is only part of the answer. Further study is required to determine the optimal implant design, particularly attention should be focused on spacer length. Careful patient selection with well-defined indications and clearly documented adjuvant procedures (such as spinal decompression)
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will allow appropriate comparison of clinical studies. It is likely that long-term studies with at least 5–10year follow-up will be required to show any clear advantage of dynamic stabilisation over and above that observed following spinal fusion.
References 1. Wetzel FT, LaRocca SH, Lowery GL (1994) The treatment of lumbar spinal pain syndromes diagnosed by discography: lumbar arthrodesis. Spine 19:792–800 2. Thomsen K, Christensen FB, Eiskjaer SP et al (1997) 1997 Volvo Award Winner in clinical studies. The effect of pedicle screw insertion on functional outcome and fusion rates in postero-lateral lumbar spinal fusion: a prospective randomised clinical study. Spine 22:2813–2822 3. McNally DS, Adams MA (1992) Internal intervertebral disc mechanics as revealed by stress profilometry. Spine 17: 66–73 4. Moore RJ, Vernon-Roberts B, Fraser RD et al (1996) The origin and fate of herniated lumbar intervertebral disc tissue. Spine 21:2149–2155 5. McNally DS, Shackleford IM, Goodship AE et al (1996) In vivo stress measurement can predict pain on discography. Spine 21:2580–2587 6. Mulholland RC, Sengupta DK (2002) Rationale, principles and experimental evaluation of the concept of soft stabilisation. Eur Spine J 11(Suppl 2):198–205 7. Troum OM, Crues JV III (2004) The young adult with hip pain: diagnosis and medical treatment, circa 2004. Clin Orthop 418:9–17
B. J. C. Freeman and C. E. W. Aylott 8. Nockels RP (2005) Dynamic stabilisation in the surgical management of painful lumbar spinal disorders. Spine 30(Suppl 16):S68–S72 9. Stoll TM, Dubois G, Schwarzenbach O (2002) The dynamic neutralisation system for the spine: a multi-centre study of a novel non-fusion system. Eur Spine J 11(Suppl 2):S170–S178 10. Grob D, Benini A, Junge A, Mannion AF (2005) Clinical experience with the Dynesys semi-rigid fixation system for the lumbar spine. Surgical and patient-oriented outcome in 50 cases after an average of 2 years. Spine 30(3):324–331 11. Welch WC, Cheng BC, Awad TE et al (2007) Clinical outcomes of the Dynesys dynamic neutralisation system: oneyear preliminary results. Neurosurg Focus 22(1):E8:1–8 12. Schmoelz W, Huber JF, Nydegger T et al (2003) Dynamic stabilisation of the lumbar spine and its effects on adjacent segments. J Spinal Disord Tech 16(4):418–423 13. Niosi CA, Zhu QA, Wilson DC et al (2006) Biomechanical characterisation of the three-dimensional kinematic behaviour of the Dynesys dynamic stabilisation system: an in-vitro study. Eur Spine J 15:913–922 14. Aylott CEW, McKinlay KG, Freeman BJC et al (2005) Dynesys (dynamic neutralisation system for the spine): acute biomechanical effects on the human cadaveric lumbar spine. J Bone Joint Surg 87B Orthop Proc Suppl III:234 15. Schmoelz W, Huber JF, Nydegger T et al (2006) Influence of a dynamic stabilisation system on load-bearing of a bridged disc: an in-vitro study of intra-discal pressure. Eur Spine J 15:1276–1285 16. Cheng BC, Gordon J, Cheng J, Welch WC (2007) Immediate biomechanical effects of lumbar posterior dynamic stabilisation above a circumferential fusion. Spine 32(23):2551–2557 17. Schulte TL, Hurschler C, Haversath M et al (2008) The effect of dynamic, semi-rigid implants on the range of motion of lumbar motion segments after decompression. Eur Spine J 17:1057–1065
Overview of Pedicle Screw-Based Posterior Dynamic Stabilization Systems
5.7
Richard D. Guyer, Donna D. Ohnmeiss, and Kevin R. Strauss
Introduction Spinal fusion has long been used to treat various painful spinal conditions. Although the results have often been good, intuitively eliminating motion of an organ that was physiologically designed to move is undesirable. With this in mind, we are entering an age of rethinking implant design, ie, moving away from rigid internal fixation devices to those that allow motion. While lumbar total disk replacement (TDR) has been in use for more than 20 years, posterior dynamic devices are much newer. Unfortunately, there are not as many studies available describing their biomechanics, indications/contraindications, and outcomes. In this chapter, we will provide an overview of lumbar pedicle-based dynamic stabilization systems.
Adjacent Segment Degeneration One of the first authors to publish on the potential of accelerated degeneration next to a fused segment was Casey Lee [1, 2]. He described how fusion added stresses on the adjacent unfused segment, particularly the facet joints. Since that time, there have been numerous publications on the fate of adjacent segments after fusion. The results of these studies have not been consistent. In a recent prospective randomized study comparing fusion with nonoperative treatment, it was reported that adjacent segment degeneration was more prevalent following fusion [3]. R. D. Guyer (*) Texas Back Institute, 6020 West Parker Rd. 200, Plano, TX 75093, USA e-mail:
[email protected] In only the more degenerated segments were the changes found to be related to clinical outcome. The question arises whether motion preserving technology can have a protective effect on the adjacent segment. Studies have supported that maintaining motion through the use of total disk replacements (TDRs) has a protective effect on the segments adjacent to an operated degenerative segment [4, 5].
History of Dynamic Posterior Stabilization Perhaps one of the earliest dynamic stabilization systems was a spring held in place by hooks, first used in 1963 [6]. Although this was primarily designed to hold bone graft in place, the authors appreciated the semirigid immobilization the springs provided. Such early attempts of internal fixation to stabilize the spine gave way to pedicle screw rod systems. A plethora of biomechanical papers soon followed comparing the stiffness of the various pedicle screw and rod constructs. While it could be shown one construct was stiffer than another, one big question loomed that could not be answered – what is the ideal stiffness? Relatively early after the introduction of pedicle screws, questions arose concerning the stress on the adjacent segments following fusion and even the impact of internal fixation on the bone density of adjacent vertebral bodies [7, 8]. In general, the concept of a device being “too stiff” with respect to spinal implants gained acceptance. Unfortunately, the questions remain as to what is the ideal stiffness, do different applications ideally require different stiffnesses, and what is the best method to design less stiff or nonrigid devices. This last item is being addressed by the many designs of dynamic stabilization we see today.
M. Szpalski et al. (eds.), Surgery for Low Back Pain, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-04547-9_5.7, © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2010
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There are fabric rods, flexible rods, jointed rods, spiral cut rods, rods with curves or spirals, and other designs. There tends to be a general consensus among the designs that it is desirable to attach the devices to the spine via pedicle screws. This is one of the attractions of many of the new posterior dynamic stabilization systems. Pedicle screws became commonly used in the 1980s and practically every spine surgeon is trained to use these devices. Originally, these constructs were used to stabilize the spine while bony incorporation of the fusion bone graft occurred. It was almost a natural transition to design future devices based on this familiar technology. Now, there are many options for devices that are all built upon this early pedicle screw concept. While the open placement of the screws has not significantly changed, the variety of implants available to attach to them has changed dramatically. Still, the authors are unaware of any significant study proving the efficacy for any of these devices. As the interest in motion preserving technology has increased for spine, we are now seeing a wide array of flexible, or semirigid, rods as well as facet joint replacements that are designed to be implanted using screws or other anchoring devices placed into the pedicles. The purpose of this chapter is to provide an overview of the general design concepts for the many dynamic systems currently available.
Cord-Type Systems Rather than using rigid metal, one of the earliest designs of a dynamic stabilization system used cords affixed to metallic pedicle screws. The first of these was the Graf ligament, which was made of nylon. The results reported for this device have been mixed [9–15]. Most of the studies suffer from small sample sizes. Years later, the Dynesys (Zimmer, Inc.) was introduced that also used a polyethylene-terephalate cord attached to pedicle screws, and it incorporated polycarbonate urethane bumpers over the cord to limit extension. The surgical technique for Dynesys requires a 300 N pretension on the cord, thereby placing the plastic bumper in compression and creating a fairly stiff construct at the time of the procedure. The results from studies on this device have also varied with favorable [16–18] and unfavorable outcomes including
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reports of screw loosening, screw malposition, or adjacent segmental degeneration in 17–19% of patients [19–21]. None of these studies were prospective randomized trials. Results from the multicenter FDA IDE Dynesys trial were presented recently comparing dynamic stabilization to posterior fusion in the treatment of stenosis, degenerative spondylolisthesis, or retrolisthesis [22]. Both groups improved significantly and the authors indicated that the dynamic group improved significantly more than the fusion group on the outcome measures of back and leg pain.
Semirigid/Flexible Rods Semirigid, or flexible, rods are designed to provide stability to the spine, but to have some flexibility to reduce stresses on the adjacent segments. Some of the rods are similar to the metal rods of the past but are made of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) [23] or other materials with a modulus of elasticity more similar to bone. How beneficial this characteristic is in posterior dynamic stabilization has yet to be investigated. These types of devices typically provide flexibility along the entire implant length and are attached to metal screws. A similar metal device called Potomac (K2M, Inc.; Leesburg, VA) provides bending motion about its long axis. The device is made from Nickel-Titanium (NiTi, Nitinol) alloy, also known as Shape Memory Alloy. It is more flexible than a titanium rod, but not significantly different with respect to load sharing capacity [24]. There are no clinical data available on the use of this device. While there are many designs of flexible rods available, there are little data from which to determine if they offer benefit over traditional stiffer rods or not using any posterior stabilization at all, particularly when an interbody fusion has been performed.
Curved and Spiral Designs One means by which to make a metal rod less rigid is to incorporate the concept of spirals or curves into the rod. These designs concentrate the motion in the regions of the curves. One such implant is the (Dynamic Stabilization System; Spinal Concepts, Austin, TX) [25],
5.7 Overview of Pedicle Screw-Based Posterior Dynamic Stabilization Systems
which consists of a loop of Ø4.0 mm spring grade titanium attached to two pedicle screws. Two other systems (BioFlex System; Bio-Spine and the Nitinol Memory loop) incorporate curves into the design of rods made of Nitinol, a shape memory alloy metal [26]. Kim et al. reported favorable results associated with the use of the Nitinol devices at fused and adjacent segments [26].
Jointed Rods Another design of rods are those that have one or more joints and provide flexibility at only one or a few discrete points along the implant as opposed to semirigid or flexible rods that allow motion along the length of the device. Among these designs is the Isobar (Scient’X). This device allows for 2° of bending motion about the long axis of the device as well as axial rotation about its long axis. But, as previously stated, the exact amount and type of motion required are unknown.
Other Means of Providing Motion One version of a flexible rod is Accuflex (Globus Medical). It provides motion through a spiral cut made into the rod [27]. The degree of flexibility is dependent upon the pitch, width of the cut, and the number of times the spiral cut wraps around the rod. The Accuflex device was offered as Ø6.5 mm rod [27] and approved for single-level fusion. The device has not been sold or marketed for several years. The N Fix (N Spine) has a rod made of titanium and an elastomeric material, which acts as a damper in translational motion. This device is similar to the Agile (Medtronic) device except that it provides translational motion, while the Agile provides only bending motion. Both devices are provided as Ø6.0 mm for connection to pedicle screws and reduce to approximately Ø3.0 mm diameter in the dynamic segment. It is well-known in the industry that the Agile system was removed from the market 2 weeks after it was launched due to failures of the device. One metallic design of pedicle screw-based system allows for changes in the interpedicular distance (Axient; IST, Boston, MA). This device was designed to address a concern that during flexion, the interpedicular distance changes.
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This was not a concern when trying to fuse a segment, but potentially is an issue when designing implants for motion. However, there have been no reports published supporting benefits of this design feature.
Total Facet Joint Replacement Several types of facet joint replacements have been introduced that use a pedicle-based anchoring system. All of these devices are designed for single-level use above the L5-S1 level and primarily for the treatment of spinal stenosis. Unlike the dynamic rods discussed earlier which typically achieve US regulatory approval by claiming substantial equivalence to fusion constructs, all of these devices will be evaluated in multicenter prospective randomized FDA-regulated trials. One total facet replacement system is the TFAS (Archus Orthopedics; Redmond, WA). This is an allmetal system that has plugs rather than actual screws put into the pedicles and is anchored with PMMA. Preliminary results of the FDA IDE trial were recently presented and were favorable [28]. The TOPS system (Impliant) is designed as a single-level posterior device requiring four pedicle screws for fixation. It provides 3° of rotational freedom and this flexural assemble is housed within an elastomeric boot. Early results reported were promising [29, 30]. However, the FDA IDE trial in the Unites States was temporarily put on hold due to a device failure. After a redesign, enrollment was reinitiated. The ACADIA (Facet Solutions) is an all-metal implant whose design incorporates the interface of flat sliding surfaces similar to the anatomy of the facet joint. Six-month follow-up results from a 20 patient IDE pilot study showed a 78% reduction in Oswestry scores and 80% reduction in leg pain scores. (Presented by Regan, North American Spine Society precourse; October, 2008)
Other Devices The Stabilimax NZ (Applied Spine Technologies) was designed based on the concept of the neutral zone and does not require removal of the facets. The device has springs attached between pedicle screws that allow
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controlled motion. The FDA IDE trial was temporarily put on hold but has resumed after a device modification was made.
Devices Designed for Combined Posterior Stabilization and Total Disk Replacement The use of TDR is limited by the contraindications of facet joint problems or other posterior spinal problems or instability. This gave rise early on to the possibility of combining TDR with dynamic posterior stabilization or total facet replacement. To date, the authors are aware of only one system being designed for this combined intervention. The device is designed to incorporate a two-piece (left and right) TDR (TruDiscPL; Disk Motion Technologies, Boca Raton, Florida) to be implanted using a posterior approach and then supplemented with dynamic posterior stabilization. The system has undergone biomechanical testing [31]. No published data on clinical outcome with this device were found.
Indications for Posterior Dynamic Devices Specific indications for semirigid, or flexible, rods have not been investigated to any degree of rigor in clinical series. The indications described for these systems tend to fall into one or more of several categories: replacement of rigid screw and rod constructs for fusion, as a replacement for fusion altogether (particularly in combination with decompression), TDR salvage, adjunct to disk decompression, treatment of disk degeneration, and to be combined with TDRs to create a circumferential dynamic replacement. Whether some semirigid implants are better suited for particular indications remains to be determined. In a letter to the Editor, Gardner et al. described indications for the Graf systems as chronic low back pain unresponsive to nonoperative management with a well-defined source of pain, particularly mild to moderate disk degeneration, instability related to decompression, no more than grade I spondylolisthesis, and pseudoarthrosis repair to serve as a tension band for interbody procedures [32]. They suggested contraindications to be severe disk degeneration and more than
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grade I spondylolisthesis. Their overall statement was that soft stabilization is for soft tissue problems and fusion is for bony problems. Schnake et al. reported on the use of Dynesys as an adjunct to decompression and a replacement for fusion [17]. The authors thought this produced results similar to decompression and fusion with stenosis and spondylolisthesis. Highsmith et al. described three general indications for use of a PEEK rod [23]. These included instability that is treated with a fusion, but there is a desire to put less stress on the adjacent segments – the treatment of a degenerated adjacent segment above a previous fusion, and possible use as a tension band to provide stability even when a solid fusion may not be the goal. Scott-Young described the use of dynamic posterior fixation as a salvage procedure for problematic TDRs [33]. He discussed that in some patients dynamic stabilization could be used to stabilize a TDR segment without sacrificing the benefit of motion at the segment. He also discussed the planned combination of TDR and dynamic stabilization. Another possibility in using semirigid rods is in “topping off” a fusion. That is, the instrumentation is used to provide stability for bony incorporation to occur at the level of a posterior fusion and the device is extended to the level above to reduce instability. This type of application may be useful in patients undergoing decompression at a level above a decompression and fusion. With respect to the suggestion of using semirigid rods for the treatment of painful disk degeneration, there are little, if any, data to support their use for this application. Indications for dynamic total facet replacements have been more clearly defined. These devices are designed primarily for patients with stenosis with facet arthropathy as a major component. To date, none of these devices are designed for implantation at the L5-S1 level. Some do include the indications of facet replacement at one level with decompression at adjacent levels.
Summary An appreciation for adjacent segment breakdown arising from stiff spinal fusions gave rise to the desire to stabilize the spine, but to do so with less rigid implants. A natural progression seemed to be from using pedicle
5.7 Overview of Pedicle Screw-Based Posterior Dynamic Stabilization Systems
screws with which most spine surgeons are very familiar, and replacing the stiff metallic rods of the past with less rigid implants. Unfortunately, almost all of the semirigid implants were approved through the 510(k) process in the United States whereby mechanical test data for fusion devices were the predicate. Therefore, no rigorous controlled trials were undertaken for these implants to provide evaluation of these devices for nonfusion applications, as described in the previous section concerning indications for use. The only rod-like device to initiate a formal clinical trial as a dynamic stabilization device was the Dynesys. Interestingly, the manufacturer had received approval for this device as a fusion implant first. The next step was the development of total facet replacements for the treatment of stenotic patients. While these technologies are exciting, time and data are needed to determine their results. The concept of dynamic posterior stabilization is appealing. However, a series of clinical trials needs to be initiated to help define the most appropriate indications and contraindications for these implants. Insight may also be gained through the use of national registries to accumulate data for a large number of patients.
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on vertebral bone density. A canine model. Spine 16: S190–S197 9. Grevitt MP, Gardner AD, Spilsbury J, Shackleford IM, Baskerville R, Pursell LM et al (1995) The Graf stabilisation system: early results in 50 patients. Eur Spine J 4:169–175 10. Brechbuhler D, Markwalder TM, Braun M (1998) Surgical results after soft system stabilization of the lumbar spine in degenerative disc disease–long-term results. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 140:521–525 11. Madan S, Boeree NR (2003) Outcome of the Graf ligamentoplasty procedure compared with anterior lumbar interbody fusion with the Hartshill horseshoe cage. Eur Spine J 12: 361–368 12. Konno S, Kikuchi S (2000) Prospective study of surgical treatment of degenerative spondylolisthesis: comparison between decompression alone and decompression with graf system stabilization. Spine 25:1533–1537 13. Hadlow SV, Fagan AB, Hillier TM, Fraser RD (1998) The Graf ligamentoplasty procedure. Comparison with posterolateral fusion in the management of low back pain. Spine 23:1172–1179 14. Guigui P (1994) Chopin D [Assessment of the use of the Graf ligamentoplasty in the surgical treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis. Apropos of a series of 26 patients]. Rev Chir Orthop Reparatrice Appar Mot 80:681–688 15. Kanayama M, Hashimoto T, Shigenobu K, Harada M, Oha F, Ohkoshi Y et al (2001) Adjacent-segment morbidity after Graf ligamentoplasty compared with posterolateral lumbar fusion. J Neurosurg 95:5–10 16. Stoll TM, Dubois G, Schwarzenbach O (2002) The dynamic neutralization system for the spine: a multi-center study of a novel non-fusion system. Eur Spine J 11(Suppl 2):S170–S178 17. Schnake KJ, Schaeren S, Jeanneret B (2006) Dynamic stabilization in addition to decompression for lumbar spinal stenosis with degenerative spondylolisthesis. Spine 31:442–449 18. Putzier M, Schneider SV, Funk JF, Tohtz SW, Perka C (2005) The surgical treatment of the lumbar disc prolapse: nucleotomy with additional transpedicular dynamic stabilization versus nucleotomy alone. Spine 30:E109–E114 19. Grob D, Benini A, Junge A, Mannion AF (2005) Clinical experience with the Dynesys semirigid fixation system for the lumbar spine: surgical and patient-oriented outcome in 50 cases after an average of 2 years. Spine 30:324–331 20. Wurgler-Hauri CC, Kalbarczyk A, Wiesli M, Landolt H, Fandino J (2008) Dynamic neutralization of the lumbar spine after microsurgical decompression in acquired lumbar spinal stenosis and segmental instability. Spine 33:E66–E72 21. Lee SE, Park SB, Jahng TA, Chung CK, Kim HJ (2008) Clinical experience of the dynamic stabilization system for the degenerative spine disease. J Korean Neurosurg Soc 43:221–226 22. Davis R, Delamarter R, Wingate J, Sherman J, Maxwell J, Welch W (2008) Twenty-four month results from a prospective randomized controlled IDE study of the Dynesys dynamic stabilization system. North American Spine Society, Toronto, Canada 23. Highsmith JM, Tumialan LM, Rodts GE Jr (2007) Flexible rods and the case for dynamic stabilization. Neurosurg Focus 22:E11 24. Donald G, Cammisa F, Nunley P, Strauss K, Cunningham B, Miz G (2008) In vitro biomechanical analysis of the spine using pedicle screws and rods: Ti-6Al-4V vs. NiTi (Nitinol). Spine Arthroplasty Society, Miami, Florida
226 25. Sengupta DK (2005) Dynamic stabilization devices in the treatment of low back pain. Neurol India 53:466–474 26. Kim YS, Zhang HY, Moon BJ, Park KW, Ji KY, Lee WC et al (2007) Nitinol spring rod dynamic stabilization system and Nitinol memory loops in surgical treatment for lumbar disc disorders: short-term follow up. Neurosurg Focus 22:E10 27. Mandigo CE, Sampath P, Kaiser MG (2007) Posterior dynamic stabilization of the lumbar spine: pedicle based stabilization with the AccuFlex rod system. Neurosurg Focus 22:E9 28. Sachs B, Webb S, Brown C, Wiles D, Castellvi A, Wingo C et al (2008) The Total Facet Arthroplasty System® (TFAS®) in the treatment of degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis: midterm results of US IDE trial with longest follow-up of 24-months. North American Spine Society, Toronto, Canada 29. McAfee P, Khoo LT, Pimenta L, Capuccino A, Sengoz A, Coric D et al (2007) Treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis with a total posterior arthroplasty prosthesis: implant
R. D. Guyer et al. description, surgical technique, and a prospective report on 29 patients. Neurosurg Focus 22:E13 30. Guyer RD (2007) Impliant TOPS: total posterior element replacement. In: Szpalski M, Gunzburg R, Le Huec JC, BraydaBruno M (eds) Nonfusion technologies in spine surgery. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, Philadelphia, pp 221–224 31. Goel VK, Kiapour A, Faizan A, Krishna M, Friesem T (2007) Finite element study of matched paired posterior disc implant and dynamic stabilizer (360° motion preservation system). SAS J 1:55–62 32. Gardner A, Declerck GM, Hardcastle P, Markwalder TM, Moon MS, Salanova C et al (2000) Re: The Graf ligamentoplasty procedure. Comparison with posterolateral fusion in the management of low-back pain. Spine 25:273–276 33. Scott-Young M (2007) Posterior dynamic stabilization devices in the coming age of lumbar disc replacement. Neurosurg Focus 22:E14
Semirigid Fixation System for the Lumbar Spine
5.8
Dieter Grob, Andrea Luca, and Anne F. Mannion
The concept of spinal fusion originally arose from the notion that a degenerated motion segment is often “unstable” or shows “movement abnormalities,” and that accordingly, the elimination of motion in the affected segment would prevent it from undertaking the movements associated with the generation of pain. Recent thinking, however, suggests that the prevention of movement per se may not be the most important factor accounting for the success of fusion. For a long time, solid fusion was thought to be a requirement for a successful outcome; however, the results of many recent studies have challenged this concept by showing that patients’ self-rated improvements in pain and function after surgery are not directly related to the attainment of solid fusion [1–6]. It is now well accepted that degeneration of the spine is often associated with pain. It has been noted that back pain is primarily related to position or posture, rather than movement of the lumbar spine, and it has, thus, been hypothesized that it is the abnormal pattern of loading associated with degeneration, rather than the abnormal movement itself, which accounts for disk degeneration causing back pain in some patients [7]. The dynamic neutralization system for the spine (Dynesys) is a nonfusion pedicle screw stabilization system that was developed 14 years ago [8]. In view of the arguments presented above and the suggestion that prevention of all movements within fused segments may not only be detrimental to sagittal balance and overall function but may also elicit acceler ated degenerative changes in neighboring segments,
D. Grob (*) Spine Center, Schulthess Klinik, Lengghalde 2, 8008 Zürich, Switzerland e-mail:
[email protected] “soft stabilization” was developed with subsequent optimistic reports [8, 9] of clinical results superior to those of fusion. Although the system has now been in clinical use for more than a decade, there are few studies in the literature that report on patient-oriented outcome after Dynesys implantation. A report from the originators of the system showed marked reductions in average pain and disability in a group of 73 patients, approximately 3 years after Dynesys instrumentation [8]. However, neither the proportion of patients declaring a successful global outcome nor the proportion attaining a clinically relevant change in pain or Oswestry disability was reported. Furthermore, the complications reported with the 3-year period were quite considerable. The aim of the present study was to examine patientoriented outcomes in a group of 50 patients in whom the Dynesys system had been implanted. This Dynesys group was compared to a larger patient population that underwent instrumented fusion for similar indications.
Materials and Methods Patients A total of 50 consecutive patients who had undergone semirigid fixation of the lumbar spine with the Dynesys system took part in the study. Three surgeons were involved. The mean age of the patients at operation was 50 years (SD, 12 years; range, 30–80 years); there were 30 women and 20 men. Comparative data were obtained from 311 patients in our in-house registry who had undergone fusion of the lumbar spine for degenerative conditions.
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Table 5.8.1 Demographic and basic clinical data of the two groups, Dynesys and fusion Dynesys N > 50 Fusion N > 311 Age (mean ± SD; range, y)
50 ± 12 (30–80)
61 ± 13 (21–87)
Gender (% men)
40
31
Previously operated (%)
40
33
28 70 2
37 63 –
Levels operated 1 level (%) 2–3 levels (%) 4 levels (%)
The indication for surgery for both groups was degenerative disease (disk/stenosis/spondylosis) resulting in some form of instability associated with neurogenic or radicular pain, and/or chronic back pain. For 30 of 50 (60%) Dynesys patients and 67% of the fusion patients, the procedure was their first spinal operation. Twenty of fifty (40%) in the Dynesys group and 33% in the fusion group had previously undergone decompression of the same or neighboring segments, and/or fusion of neighboring segments (Table 5.8.1).
Preoperative Evaluation Preoperative evaluation of the Dynesys group included patient history, imaging, and clinical and neurologic evaluation by the treating surgeon. The data were entered into the hospital’s computerized patient records system. All the patients in the Dynesys group were contacted by letter and invited to complete a short questionnaire (to be returned in the post) regarding their perceptions of the outcome of surgery. The questionnaire enquired about: pain intensity (0–10 VAS); changes in overall back symptoms and leg symptoms as a result of the operation (categorized in each case as “much improved,” “improved,” “no change,” “worse”); reoperations undergone since the Dynesys implantation (number and nature of operation); removal of the Dynesys system (yes, no, don’t know); change in work status, quality of life, and ability to perform free-time/sporting activities as a result of the operation (in each case, “much improved,” “improved,” “same,” “worse”); global outcome after surgery (categorized as “helped a lot,” “helped,” “helped
a little,” “no change,” “made things worse”); and whether, in hindsight, the same decision would be made to undergo surgery (yes, no). For the data of the fusion group, the Spine Society of Europe Spine Tango register (www.eurospine.com) was used. Patient-orientated outcome measures, 2 years after surgery, were evaluated using an in-house register comprising the Core Outcome Measures Index (COMI) [10] and questions on global outcome. Since the COMI was not available at the time of the Dynesys evaluation, only the questions that were comparable in both evaluations are presented in this study (pain intensity and global outcome).
Results There were 5/50 (10%) intraoperative/immediatepostoperative complications in the Dynesys group. In the fusion group, 1.9% (6/311) patients suffered from surgical-related complications. Examination of the first postoperative radiographs in relation to positioning of the Dynesys screws revealed six cases of “technical error”: in two cases, the screws were positioned extrapedicularly; in two cases, too far laterally (in both these cases, computer assistance had been used); in one case, just one screw had been used, and in one more case, the screws on the right-hand side showed loosening. None of these technical errors per se caused significant symptoms or necessitated reintervention. No specific data are available regarding the “technical error” rate of complications of the fusion group. A total of 8 of 50 (16%) Dynesys patients either required reintervention in the 2-year follow-up or were undergoing further investigative tests with a view to reoperation in the near future. Three patients required revision surgery at the same spinal level with removal of the Dynesys system: in two of these, a rigid fusion was carried out due to implant loosening (after 6 months and 18 months); and in the third, the Dynesys instrumentation was removed on one side due to infection (after 8 months). One patient required decompression and revision due to radicular pain (after 3 months) and another required a morphine pump, 12 months after the Dynesys instrumentation. One patient underwent metal removal in connection with a spondylodesis carried out 2 years earlier, at the level below that instrumented with Dynesys (12 months after the Dynesys operation). At the time of the present follow-up study, a further two
5.8 Semirigid Fixation System for the Lumbar Spine
patients with signs of screw loosening were undergoing consultation, with a view to possible revision; both underwent reoperation shortly after (Dynesys removal and fusion). In the fusion group, 9% of the patients had required reoperations by the 24-months follow-up. A total of 49 of 50 (98%) Dynesys patients completed and returned the patient-oriented follow-up questionnaire. The remaining patient from whom no questionnaire was received was contacted by telephone to obtain the most basic outcome data. The average questionnaire follow-up duration was 2.1 (SD 1.1) years (range, 0.3–3.6 years; median, 2.3 years). The patients’ mean (SD) preoperative pain intensity, as documented on the preoperative clinical evaluation form during the initial consultation, was 7.2 (1.9) for back pain and 6.0 (2.7) for leg pain. At follow-up, the mean (SD) patient self-rated pain intensity was 5.2 (3.2) for back pain and 3.6 (3.6) for leg pain. In the follow-up questionnaire, the proportions of patients who declared that their back symptoms had resolved, improved, were unchanged, or were worse were 12, 50, 25, and 13%, respectively; the corresponding figures for self-rated leg symptoms were 36, 34, 17, and 13%, respectively. At the time of follow-up, the patients’ self-rated ability to carry out physical activities (sport/hobbies) had “improved” as a result of the operation in 33% patients, was “unchanged” in 40%, and was “worse” in 27%. Overall quality of life had “improved” in 47%, was “unchanged” in 37%, and was “worse” in 16%. In response to a question enquiring as to whether the patients were in the same job now as before the operation, the following replies were recorded: 20% were in the exact same job as before; 20% were in the same job but only able to work part-time; 4% had changed jobs for personal reasons or due to changes in the job market; 10% had retired on the grounds of age; 25% had gone onto a disability pension due to back problems; and 21% had a different employment status for other reasons.
229 Table 5.8.2 Pain levels and global outcome at the 2-year follow-up in Dynesys and fusion groups Dynesys Fusion N > 50 N > 311 VAS leg pain at 2 year follow-up (mean ± SD)
3.6 ± 3.6
3.3 ± 3.0
VAS back pain at 2 year follow-up (mean ± SD)
5.2 ± 3.2
3.7 ± 2.8
28 20 18 26 8
43 32 14 9 2
Global outcome Helped a lot (%) Helped (%) Helped only little (%) Didn’t help (%) Made things worse (%)
The patients’ overall self-rating of the global outcome is shown in Table 5.8.2. In hindsight, 68% would make the same decision to undergo surgery, while the remaining 32% reported that they would not. Approximately, 40% patients underwent decompression in addition to the Dynesys instrumentation, making it somewhat difficult to separate out the relative effects of the decompression and those of the stabilization on the patients’ self-ratings of pain, disability, quality of life, etc. measured at follow-up. Thus, the various outcome variables were compared between the patients who received Dynesys instrumentation only (D) and those who received Dynesys in addition to decompression (DDec). There was an overall trend for poorer results in the D group compared with the DDec group, with the differences for some of the variables (change in quality of life after the operation; and “would you, in hindsight, make the same decision again to undergo the operation?”) approaching statistical significance, even with the small numbers involved. When these same categories were applied to the fusion group, there was no notable difference in favor of the decompression group (Table 5.8.3).
Table 5.8.3 Difference in outcome between patients receiving only Dynesys (or only fusion) and those receiving these in addition to decompression Dynesys (N > 50) Fusion (N > 311) No decompression Decompression No decompression Decompression (%) (%) (%) (%) Helped/helped a lot
Good
40
60
75
76
Helped only a little
Fair
30
0
17
13
Didn’t help made things worse
Bad
30
40
8
11
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Discussion Fusion is generally considered to be the treatment of choice for painful degenerative conditions of the lumbar spine that have proven unresponsive to nonoperative therapy. The results reported in the literature for the outcome after fusion vary according to patient selection and indication; satisfactory results have been reported to range from 16 to 95%, with an average of about 68% [1]. More recent, large-scale studies confirm these figures (57% good/excellent [11]; 63% patients “better” or “much better” [5]). For a long time, good results were thought to be dependent on radiologically confirmed solid fusion, although recent studies in which patients with pseudarthrosis showed the same clinical outcome as patients with solid fusion [2, 6, 11, 12] have challenged this notion. It might, therefore, be hypothesized that it is the reduction in (rather than the elimination of) segmental motion – brought about by partial fusion, or perhaps even simply by an alteration of the structure of the spinal tissues, induced by the surgery itself – that results in the alleviation of pain. It was on this basis that “nonfusion” concepts for treating painful degenerative disorders of the lumbar spine were developed. Clinical use of the Dynesys semirigid instrumentation began in 1994. Since then, various individual case studies have been presented, showing restoration of disk height and improvements in Modic changes after Dynesys [9, 13–17] associated with significant pain relief. In the present study, approximately two-thirds of the patients reported some improvement in their leg/ back pain. However, only one-third reported an improvement in their ability to perform physical activities and just under half, an improvement in their quality of life. Less than half declared that the operation had helped or helped a lot. In an analysis of the results of the group of 311 patients who had undergone fusion in our hospital, for the same indication, and by the same surgeons using the same infrastructure, 75% declared that the operation had helped/helped a lot. Naturally, randomized controlled trials would be necessary to investigate this with the scientific rigor required to make definitive statements about the relative merits of the two techniques. In the present study, when the patients who underwent decompression in addition to Dynesys were compared with those who only received Dynesys, the
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results were generally more favorable for the former group. In the face of such potential confounding factors, caution must be exercised in attributing the results to the Dynesys per se. Although the group results presented here for Dynesys are not very favorable, there are some patients who clearly benefited from the surgery. No previous studies have identified predictors of success for the Dynesys implant system, either in relation to the surgical indication or to other baseline factors (such as age, gender, diagnostics used, previous operations, baseline pain levels, etc.). The sample size in the present study was not large enough to carry out meaningful multivariate analyses to accurately identify predictor variables. Examination of the purported mechanism of action of the Dynesys system may also shed some light on the issue of the varying individual responses to its implantation. When Dynesys first appeared on the market, it was promoted as a device that would allow motion to be “preserved” and “modulated,” i.e., movement would be retained, but at a moderate level in relation to the otherwise unphysiologic, hypermobility displayed by the degenerated segment(s) [18]. However, two biomechanical studies have shown that, at least in vitro, the range of intersegmental motion after Dynesys instrumentation is much lower than expected [19, 20]. Independently, both these studies showed that for flexion/extension and lateral bending, almost identical ranges of motion were observed for Dynesys instrumentation and a rigid internal fixator. Only in axial rotation did the Dynesys allow a significantly greater range of motion compared with rigid fixation. At present, based on our experience, there is no overwhelming evidence to suggest that the Dynesys system performs better than traditional fusion with indications in the degenerative lumbar spine. This statement seems to be confirmed in more recent literature [15, 16, 21, 22]. Ultimately, the elimination of donor site morbidity seems to be the only proven advantage of the Dynesys system.
References 1. Turner JA, Ersek M, Herron L et al (1992) Patient outcomes after lumbar spinal fusions. JAMA 268:907–911 2. Agazzi S, Reverdin A, May D (1999) Posterior lumbar interbody fusion with cages: an independent review of 71 cases. J Neurosurg 91(Suppl 2):186–192
5.8 Semirigid Fixation System for the Lumbar Spine 3. Christensen BF, Hansen ES, Laursen M et al (2002) Longterm functional outcome of pedicle screw instrumentation as a support for posterolateral spinal fusion: randomized clinical study with a 5-year follow-up. Spine 27:1269–1277 4. Fischgrund JS, Mackay M, Herkowitz HN et al (1997) 1997 Volvo Award winner in clinical studies. Degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis with spinal stenosis: a prospective, randomized study comparing decompressive laminectomy and arthrodesis with and without spinal instrumentation. Spine 22:2807–2812 5. Fritzell P, Hagg O, Wessbert P et al (2001) 2001 Volvo Award winner in clinical studies: lumbar fusion versus nonsurgical treatment for chronic low back pain. Spine 26:2521–2534 6. Fritzell P, Hagg O, Wessberg P et al (2002) Chronic low back pain and fusion: a comparison of three surgical techniques: a prospective multicenter randomised study from the Swedish lumbar spine study group. Spine 27:1131–1141 7. Mulholland RC, Sengupta DK (2002) Rationale, principles and experimental evaluation of the concept of soft stabilization. Eur Spine J 11(Suppl 2):198–201 8. Stoll TM, Dubois G, Schwarzenbach O (2002) The dynamic neutralisation system for the spine: a multi-center study of a novel non-fusion system. Eur Spine J 11(Suppl 2):170–178 9. Welch WC, Cheng BC, Awad TE, Davis R, Maxwell JH, Delamarter R, Wingate JK, Sherman J, Macenski MM (2007) Clinical outcomes of the Dynesys dynamic neutralization system: 1-year preliminary results. Neurosurg Focus 22(1):E8 10. Mannion AF, Elfering A, Staerkle R, Junge A, Grob D, Semmer NK, Jacobshagen N, Dvorak J, Boos N (2005) Outcome assessment in low back pain: how low can you go? Eur Spine J 14(10):1014–1026. Epub 2005 Jun 11. France JC, Yaszemski MJ, Lauerman WC et al (1999) A randomized prospective study of posterolateral lumbar fusion: outcomes with and without pedicle screw instrumentation. Spine 24:553–560 12. Andersen T, Christensen FB, Hansen ES et al (2003) Pain 5 years after instrumented and non-instrumented posterolateral lumbar spinal fusion. Eur Spine J 12:393–399
231 13. Huber JF (2003) Clinical experience with Dynesys: Synos (Stiftung Förderung der orthopädischen Chirurgie) workshop: motion preserving instrumentation of the lumbar spine, August 22. Schulthess Klink, Zürich, Switzerland 14. Leu HJ (2003) Clinical experience with Dynesys: Synos (Stiftung Förderung der orthopädischen Chirurgie) workshop: motion preserving instrumentation of the lumbar spine, August 22. Schulthess Klink, Zürich, Switzerland 15. Schnake KJ, Scharen S, Jeanneret B (2006) Dynamic stabilization in addition to decompression for lumbar spinal stenosis with degenerative spondylolisthesis. Spine 31(4):442–449 16. Bothmann M, Kast E, Boldt GJ, Oberle J (2008) Dynesys fixation for lumbar spine degeneration. Neurosurg Rev 31(2): 189–196 17. Schwarzenbach O, Berlemann U, Stoll TM, Dubois G (2005) Posterior dynamic stabilization system: Dynesys. Orthop Clin North Am 36(3):363–372 18. Baumgartner W (2003) Die Synos (Stiftung Förderung der orthopädischen Chirurgie) workshop: motion preserving instrumentation of the lumbar spine, August 22. Schulthess Klink, Zürich, Switzerland 19. Oxland T (2003) In vitro studies of the biomechanics of the Dynesys system: Synos (Stiftung Fo¨ rderung der orthopa¨dischen Chirurgie) workshop: motion preserving instrumentation of the lumbar spine, August 22. Schulthess Klink, Zürich, Switzerland 20. Schmoelz W, Huber JF, Nydegger T et al (2003) Dynamic stabilisation of the lumbar spine and its effects on adjacent segments: an in vitro experiment. J Spinal Disord Tech 16:418–423 21. Scharen S, Broger I, Jeanneret B (2008) Minimum four-year follow up of spinal stenosis with degenerative spondylolisthesis treated with decompression and dynamic stabilization. Spine. 33(18):E636–E642 22. Grob D, Benini A, Junge A, Mannion A (2005) Clinical experience with the Dynesys semirigid fixation system for the lumbar spine. Surgical and patient-oriented outcome in 50 cases after an average of 2 years. Spine 3:324–331
Nonrigid Stabilization of the Spine – Problems Observed: Screw Loosening/Breakage/Implant Failure/Adjacent Segment Degeneration
5.9
Paul F. Heini
Introduction Stabilization procedures of spinal motion segments in certain situations of segmental “instabilities” are widely used and generally accepted. Until recently, the classic intervention at the lumbar spine consisted in a posterolateral fusion procedure with or without instrumentation. The need of bone graft or bone graft substitutes on one hand and of nonunion on the other hand needs to be mentioned. Although spinal stabilization and fusion have shown to be efficient in many spine pathologies, there is an ambiguous reputation for spinal fusions for low back pain due to degenerative problems [1, 2]. Independent of the problem addressed, one of the main restraints of spinal fusion remains the problem of adjacent level degeneration, the so-called fusion disease [3, 4]. Therefore, nonfusion devices are promoted in order to prevent adjacent level problems, and furthermore, to facilitate the surgical procedure by avoiding bone harvesting and bone grafting. Besides disk arthroplasty, posterior pedicle-based systems are used for this purpose. Although many of them have been available for more than 10 years, there is only limited information available regarding indication and long-term outcome, especially when the issue of adjacent level degeneration is addressed. Based on a series of patients treated with dynamic stabilization and the observed technical failures, some fundamental questions do arise:
P. F. Heini Spine & Ortho Center, Klinik Sonnenhof, 3006 Bern, Switzerland e-mail:
[email protected] 1. What loads are acting at the each individual motion segment (disk and facet joints)? 2. How can we interfere and to what extent do we need to change the loading pattern acting on the spine with a dynamic implant? 3. Can we apply a prophylactic dynamic stabilization in order to stop the degenerative cascade? Today, we have to say that the loads acting on the lumbar spine are not exactly clear. The available data are mainly based on few in vivo measurements that have been performed by telemetric measurements with instrumented implants in patients treated for degenerative and traumatic spine instabilities [5, 6] and in vivo intradiscal pressure measurements [7–9, 10]. Models with FE have been developed for many different variables; however, the real mechanical situation in a spinal motion segment seems far more complex than the actual models are able to predict [11, 12]. In consequence, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the amount of force that is needed to provide sufficient stability in order to do the job required (stabilize the pathologic motion segment, but prevent adjacent segment degeneration) on one hand. Therefore, on the other hand, it is not really known which mechanical requirements need to be fulfilled by a dynamic system in order to withstand the occurring loads (which in turn are not really clear). This paradox may be the reason that the indications for these implants remain obscure, and furthermore, it might be the explanation that even after extensive in vitro mechanical testing some of these stabilization systems did fail during the first clinical trials. Engineers are able to give very precise information about the mechanical performance of individual implant components; however, one critical aspect represents the load transfer from the implant to the bone: Focusing on
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pedicle screw-based systems, the critical area represents the bone – screw interface. From rigid fixation systems we have learned that either screw or rod breakage or screw loosening is observed if no fusion is achieved. So why should this not happen with a dynamic system? The flexibility of the implant should prevent implant failure. But how about the screw-bone interface?
Observed Failures of Different Dynamic Fixation Systems Dynesis A case series of failed fixations with the Dynesis system shows screw loosening/screw migration and screw breakage.
Fig. 5.9.1 Screw migration in L4: the postoperative standing film shows correct screw placement in a 34 years old male patient with improved back and leg pain who was operated for a postdiscectomy problem (a, c). Six months after this stabilization the patient started to complain about recurrent pain and at the 1 year FU X-ray, one can find a screw migration (b) and loosening (d). Sometimes screw loosening is not easy to recognize and X-rays have to be assessed very carefully
In about 25% of cases (28/120 patients treated over a time period of 5 years), usually within 6 months after the index operation, treatment failure did occur. Loosening was observed most often in younger patients with higher physical activity (16/28). Patients did present with recurrent pain. Screw loosening was observed with sometimes very extensive bone resorption around the screw (Fig. 5.9.1), otherwise simple screw migration did occur (Fig. 5.9.2). Screw breakage was observed in two cases with a crack about 1 cm from the screw tip. Obviously, the screw tip with its deep flanges at the tap achieved bony ingrowth, whereas the shaft of the screw started to swing in the pedicle (Fig. 5.9.3). Adjacent segment degeneration was an issue for treatment failure in ten patients. This was observed within 18 months in average after the index operation (Fig. 5.9.4). We did not observe failures of the connection of the screw head and the cord or failures of the PCU damper.
a
b
c
d
5.9 Nonrigid Stabilization of the Spine – Problems Observed
Fig. 5.9.2 Typical failure of bone-screw interface with wide bone resorption around the screws (arrows). Example in a 73 year old man operated for a spinal stenosis due to a degenerative slip at L3–L4. The X-rays were taken 1 year after the index
Fig. 5.9.3 Broken screw removed at S1 only 4 months after a two-level stabilization. The screw breakage occurs typically about 1.5 cm from its tip. Obviously, the deep flanges of the tap promote a bone ingrowth, whereas the shaft of the screw can swing. The breakage occurs at the point of highest stress (dashed line)
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surgery, the patient was in recurrent pain 6 months after the intervention. The screw motion in the flexion-extension view appears important (dashed and dotted lines)
236 Fig. 5.9.4 Problem of adjacent segment failure: 72-year old female after decompression and dynamic stabilization (stenosis due to severe osteoarthritis) (a). 3.5 years after the intervention, the patient presents with recurrent symptoms with severe claudication due to a severe degeneration of the adjacent segment stenosis (b)
Fig. 5.9.5 Failed dynamic stabilization with a Cosmic system. This patient experienced recurrent leg pain 3 weeks after a decompression and stabilization. This system shows a monoaxial mobility which does not prevent the so-called wiper effect. In this case the sliding of L3 over L4 is progressing because the facet joints have no frontal orientation. Furthermore, screw loosening was observed at revision probably as a consequence of the rigid rod connection
P. F. Heini
5.9 Nonrigid Stabilization of the Spine – Problems Observed
Cosmic Cosmic is a nonfusion device with a rigid rod but monoaxial mobility (Cosmic) at the screw head, and is used to provide segmental stability without a fusion (Fig. 5.9.5). Among others, the indications include instabilities after decompression (laminotomy, laminectomy, facetectomy) [13]. A small series of patients who did need early revision surgery after this type stabilization has been analyzed: all patients underwent a decompression and stabilization for degenerative grade I slippage at L4–L5. Due to a fundamental problem related to this implant by the monoaxial mobility, a translational motion is still possible, which in turn allows a further shift of the vertebrae. Furthermore, the rigid rod is provoking high peak loads at the bone-screw interface, which in turn is the reason for screw loosening in these cases.
Other In a pilot clinical series, the use of a newly engineered elastic fixation system (SOFI) did fail due to the disconnection of the metallic part and the PCU damper
Fig. 5.9.6 This young female patient is suffering from a EhlersDanlos syndrome and underwent a 360° fusion at L4–L5, together with an interspinous stabilization with the Wallis system 1 year ago (a). A newly designed dynamic stabilization
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unit. Obviously, the loads during flexion of the spine were not anticipated correctly, which in turn led to the early implant failure. The use of the implant was, therefore, discontinued (Fig. 5.9.6).
Review of the Literature Looking at technical aspects of dynamic stabilization systems reveals a rather high complication rate. For the Dynesis system, Stoll reports the results on 73 patients operated by three spine surgeons – the overall reoperation rate after 2 years in this series was 20%, of which 10% were due to implant loosening and implant failure. The radiological rate of loosening is reported as high as 10% [14]. Grob reported a 19% reoperation rate in a series of 31 points and the rate of screw loosening was 16% [15]. Schnake reports on a series of 26 pts with degenerative spondylolisthesis and spinal stenosis. Over a FU period of 2 years, a 17% rate of screw loosening was observed, however without further clinical consequences [16]. This series was followed further with persisting satisfactory outcome after 4 years; especially no further implant failure was observed in comparison to the 2 year FU [17]. In a prospective case
system was finally implanted due to ongoing pain problems (b), which failed within 2 months due to the underestimation of forces occurring during flexion (c)
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series of 37 patients with spinal stenosis and “dysfunctional segmental motion,” Würgler et al. reported a 19% reoperation rate during the first year after the index operation. Screw breakage was observed in four patients; screw loosening was not assessed. The overall outcome was dissatisfactory in 32% of cases assessed by the Stauffer Coventry Scale [18]. Beastall reports on the in vivo MR measurements on 24 patients before and after a dynamic stabilization of the lumbar spine. There were eight single-level stabilizations, ten double-level, five with three-levels, and one four-level fixations. The motion of the whole lumbar spine was significantly decreased, and in the area of stabilization, the range of motion decreased below 5°. This value is often used as the threshold for the definition of a fusion! In other words, the dynamic stabilization system does reduce the mobility close to a fused motion segment. The anterior disk height over the observed time period did show a significant decrease [19]. Welch et al. provide a summary of a 1-year FU of the investigational device exemption (IDE) study of the FDA for the Dynesis system. Only patients with spinal stenosis were included in this study. The clinical results after 1 year are quoted to be similar as in a standard decompression and fusion procedure. The radiological outcome is not mentioned in their report. The 1 year overall reoperation rate was 15% [20]. Kim is reporting a case series of stabilizations with a pedicle screw-based nitinol spring (Nitinol Bio Flex). Hundred and three out of hundred and sixty-five patients have been assessed with a minimum FU of 6 months. Fortysix patients got a monosegmental stabilization, and 57 patients had a hybrid construct with a fusion and an adjacent segment stabilization. One broken screw is reported, and in three levels a halo around the screws was observed [21]. Mandingo reports the use of a flexible rod (AccuFlex); however, they did always combine the fixation with an interbody fusion. Although the name is making us believe that the system is dynamic, the authors state that “it is not intended as a nonfusion stabilization device” [22].
Conclusions There is need for nonfusion devices that are able to stabilize the spine as much as necessary but preserve motion as much as possible. The problem we have to
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face today is that we do not know how much stability is necessary, and technically, how one should transform the loads most reliably. None of the available systems stand the proof of prevention of adjacent segment degeneration; the failure rate is definitely higher in comparison to fusion surgery [23]. One should approach the problem stepwise: (a) mono- and bisegmental stabilization; and (b) hybrid fixation with fusion and an protective stabilization of the next segment in order to stop fixations, for instance, at L1 or T12, finally get a system that can be used in a minimally invasive manner that allows to address progressive lumbar spinal deformities and hold the viscous circle of degeneration and deformity progression.
References 1. Buttermann GR, Garvey TA, Hunt AF, Transfeldt EE, Bradford DS, Boachie-Adjei O, Ogilvie JW (1998) Lumbar fusion results related to diagnosis. Spine 23:116–127 2. Fritzell P, Hagg O, Wessberg P, Nordwall A (2001) 2001 Volvo Award winner in clinical studies: lumbar fusion versus nonsurgical treatment for chronic low back pain: a multicenter randomized controlled trial from the Swedish Lumbar Spine Study Group. Spine 26:2521–2532; discussion 2532–2524 3. Okuda S, Iwasaki M, Miyauchi A, Aono H, Morita M, Yamamoto T (2004) Risk factors for adjacent segment degeneration after PLIF. Spine 29:1535–1540 4. Penta M, Sandhu A, Fraser RD (1995) Magnetic resonance imaging assessment of disc degeneration 10 years after anterior lumbar interbody fusion. Spine 20:743–747 5. Rohlmann A, Bergmann G, Graichen F, Mayer HM (1995) Telemeterized load measurement using instrumented spinal internal fixators in a patient with degenerative instability. Spine 20:2683–2689 6. Rohlmann A, Graichen F, Kayser R, Bender A, Bergmann G (2008) Loads on a telemeterized vertebral body replacement measured in two patients. Spine 33:1170–1179 7. Nachemson A, Morris JM (1964) In vivo measurements of intradiscal pressure. Discometry, a method for the determination of pressure in the lower lumbar discs. J Bone Joint Surg Am 46:1077–1092 8. Sato K, Kikuchi S, Yonezawa T (1999) In vivo intradiscal pressure measurement in healthy individuals and in patients with ongoing back problems. Spine 24:2468–2474 9. Wilke HJ, Neef P, Caimi M, Hoogland T, Claes LE (1999) New in vivo measurements of pressures in the intervertebral disc in daily life. Spine 24:755–762 10. Lee KK, Teo EC, Qiu TX, Yang K (2004) Effect of facetectomy on lumbar spinal stability under sagittal plane loadings. Spine 29:1624–1631 11. Polikeit A, Ferguson SJ, Nolte LP, Orr TE (2003) Factors influencing stresses in the lumbar spine after the insertion of intervertebral cages: finite element analysis. Eur Spine J 12: 413–420
5.9 Nonrigid Stabilization of the Spine – Problems Observed 12. Rohlmann A, Burra NK, Zander T, Bergmann G (2007) Comparison of the effects of bilateral posterior dynamic and rigid fixation devices on the loads in the lumbar spine: a finite element analysis. Eur Spine J 16:1223–1231 13. Strempel A, Stoos C, Moosmann D, Martin A (2006) Nonfusion stabilization of the lumbar spine in the case of degenerative diseases with a dynamic pedicle screw rod. Columna 5:27–34 14. Stoll TM, Dubois G, Schwarzenbach O (2002) The dynamic neutralization system for the spine: a multi-center study of a novel non-fusion system. Eur Spine J 11(Suppl 2):S170–S178 15. Grob D, Peyer JV, Dvorak J (2001) The use of plate fixation in anterior surgery of the degenerative cervical spine: a comparative prospective clinical study. Eur Spine J 10:408–413 16. Schnake KJ, Schaeren S, Jeanneret B (2006) Dynamic stabilization in addition to decompression for lumbar spinal stenosis with degenerative spondylolisthesis. Spine 31:442–449 17. Schaeren S, Broger I, Jeanneret B (2008) Minimum fouryear follow-up of spinal stenosis with degenerative spondylolisthesis treated with decompression and dynamic stabilization. Spine 33:E636–E642 18. Wurgler-Hauri CC, Kalbarczyk A, Wiesli M, Landolt H, Fandino J (2008) Dynamic neutralization of the lumbar spine
239 after microsurgical decompression in acquired lumbar spinal stenosis and segmental instability. Spine 33:E66–E72 19. Beastall J, Karadimas E, Siddiqui M, Nicol M, Hughes J, Smith F, Wardlaw D (2007) The Dynesys lumbar spinal stabilization system: a preliminary report on positional magnetic resonance imaging findings. Spine 32:685–690 20. Welch WC, Cheng BC, Awad TE, Davis R, Maxwell JH, Delamarter R, Wingate JK, Sherman J, Macenski MM (2007) Clinical outcomes of the Dynesys dynamic neutralization system: 1-year preliminary results. Neurosurg Focus 22:E8 21. Kim YS, Zhang HY, Moon BJ, Park KW, Ji KY, Lee WC, Oh KS, Ryu GU, Kim DH (2007) Nitinol spring rod dynamic stabilization system and Nitinol memory loops in surgical treatment for lumbar disc disorders: short-term follow up. Neurosurg Focus 22:E10 22. Mandigo CE, Sampath P, Kaiser MG (2007) Posterior dynamic stabilization of the lumbar spine: pedicle based stabilization with the AccuFlex rod system. Neurosurg Focus 22:E9 23. Fritzell P, Hagg O, Nordwall A (2003) Complications in lumbar fusion surgery for chronic low back pain: comparison of three surgical techniques used in a prospective randomized study. A report from the Swedish Lumbar Spine Study Group. Eur Spine J 12:178–189
Interspinous Implants: State of the Art and Research of Evidence
5.10
Marek Szpalski, Robert Gunzburg, Christopher J. Colloca, and Robert J. Moore
Introduction
Dynamic Nature of Lumbar Stenosis
Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a common condition in elderly patients and also one of the most common reasons to perform spinal surgery at an advanced age [1]. Even though stenosis and claudication have been described as early as 1883 [2], the modern description of this pathology was performed by Verbiest in the fifties [3]. Spinal stenosis leading to radiculopathy or neurogenic claudication can be caused by different factors, of which a number are related to degenerative processes. The real participation of the so-called congenital stenosis is still a subject of debate. Some definitions need to be clarified. The classic symptom characterizing spinal stenosis is neurogenic claudication. The pathophysiology of this phenomenon is not entirely understood. However, Porter has proposed an elegant theory [4, 5]. In this explanation, claudication is caused by the venous pooling, induced by the stenotic impairment of venous drainage at root level, and will only occur if stenosis (central and/or lateral) is present at two adjacent levels. This situation is, however, not the rule, and many stenotic patients do not present with true neurogenic claudication. Often complaints linked to stenosis are sciatic pain due to the direct compression of neural structures. Identification of stenotic images in the mid and exit zones of the foramen has been made possible by MRI studies, and it was found that stenosis could be found in up to 80% of subjects over seventy [6].
LSS is characterized by a narrowing of the spinal canal with encroachment of the neural structures from degenerated or hypertrophied osteoligamentous structures. Decreased disk height, bulging of the posterior annulus, and buckling of the ligamenta flava are among the most common viscoelastic structures contributing to LSS, while hypertrophic facet joints and laminar thickening are among the major osteogenic contributors to the narrowing of the spinal canal and neuroforamina. It is well established that the diameter of the spinal canal decreases during extension [7], which in turn amplifies stenotic conditions in the presence of degenerative changes. The functional status of the spine has also been studied in relation to stenosis and the worsening of symptoms during extension. It has been shown that subjects with stenotis changes inducing a have abnormal patterns motion in sagittal extension [8]. This suggests a sort of proprioceptive protective behavior in case of potentially stenotic movements.
M. Szpalski (*) Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Hôpitaux Iris Sud, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 142 rue Marconi, 1190 Brussels, Belgium e-mail:
[email protected] Classical Treatment When standardized conservative treatment fails in LSS patients, the standard of care consists of surgical decompression. Of concern in decompressive lumbar spinal surgery is the creation of instability as a consequence of the degenerative nature of LSS [9]. Segmental instability is often considered a cause for low back pain mostly related to degenerative processes. Subsequently, more invasive methods have been developed including rigid stabilization and fusion systems with pedicle screw fixation [10].
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Accelerated adjacent segment disk degeneration from abnormal load sharing is also a concern with implantation of rigid systems [11]. As a result, dynamic stabilization systems have been developed to prevent overloading of adjacent spinal segments. Some of these involve implants secured to the spine by pedicle screw fixation such as the Graf [9] and Dynesis [12] systems. In spite of encouraging early results of pedicle screw systems for flexible interver tebral stabilization [13, 14], some long-term results were less optimistic [15, 16]. Increased lumbar lordosis, stretching of the Dacron parts, mal-positioning, and/or loosening of pedicle screws have been reported as reasons for failure.
Interspinous Processes Implants Due to the dynamic nature of spinal stenosis and neurogenic claudication, it appeared logical to prevent the harmful extension motion of affected segment(s) by fitting some kind of device between adjacent spinous processes. However, the first interspinous implant, the Wallis (Abbott Spine), was not proposed as a treatment for stenosis, but as an alternative to fusion in disk degeneration and instability, and was used with a tension band around the spinous processes [17]. This implant uses Polyetheretherketone (PEEK), is fixed to the spine by two bands looped, and tensioned around the adjacent spinous processes [18]. It was hypothesized that, combined with a tension band, stabilization could also be obtained in flexion, thereby avoiding the need for pedicle screw fixation [18]. Little biomechanical data exist to support these notions. Later, different interspinous implants have been developed to assist in providing dynamic spinal stabilization in order to avoid or supplement LSS decompression. The principle of all these systems consists of inserting the spacer between the spinous processes at the stenotic level in order to increase the intervertebral space and stretch the ligamenta flava and posterior annular fibers, thereby enlarging both the central canal and neuroforamina [19, 20]. Little is known, however, about how these interspinous implants influence the in vivo range of motion (ROM) of the lumbar spine. Moreover, they offer the advantage of being much less invasive than pedicular systems, some even being
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implanted percutaneously. The procedure is fast and without major difficulty and not linked to any major complications. If needed, it can even be performed in lateral prone and under local anesthesia. Several such experimental implants have been developed, some connecting spinous processes and laminae [21], others placed between two adjacent spinous processes with a spring [22], one with a silicone implant [23]. A number of devices are in commercial use and that number grows rapidly. The X-stop Interspinous Process Distraction System (Medtronic) is the first device having been proposed specifically for spinal stenosis and has been the subject of a multicenter prospective-controlled study which, despite some methodological flaws, gave the first evidence supporting use of an interspinous device. It compared the device with nonoperative treatment with a Zurich Claudication Questionnaire [24], and quality of life as measured with SF-36 also appears improved [25]. Clinical results seem to be maintained at 4 years [26]. Cadaveric studies show that X-Stop appears to decrease intradiscal pressure [27] and unload the facet joints [28], while not modifying adjacent level kinematics [20]. The Coflex (Paradigm Spine) is a U-shaped titanium device attached to the adjacent processes. The shape allows for a certain degree of elasticity and appears to restore a degree of stability in destabilized cadaveric spines mostly in extension [29]. A nonrandomized study comparing Coflex with PLIF and decompression in patients with stenosis and instability showed similar clinical results, but less hypermobility at adjacent segments in the Coflex group. A modified version with more rigid attachment to the processes appears too efficient to restore a certain degree of stability in motions other than extension in destabilized cadaver spines and could be used as an adjunct fixation for fusion surgery [30]. The Diam (Medtronic) is a polyester-encased silicone implant secured with a band to the spinous process. Contrarily to the two previous devices, it allows for unilateral insertion. A cadaveric study showed that the device can restore the increased motion observed after discectomy [31]. The safety of the device was assessed at 1 year compared to similar surgery without implantation. There were no differences in clinical results measured by VAS and MacNab outcome or disk height, but some processes fractures and a slight
5.10 Interspinous Implants: State of the Art and Research of Evidence
kyphosis. [32]. A retrospective study showed good results, but was methodologically flawed [33]. Other devices are becoming available in increasing number, but without much data. Some are to be used percutaneously like the Aprius (Medtronic) or the Inspine (Synthes). While an appealing solution, percutaneous insertion may be challenging in the presence of marked facet hypertrophy, often present in elderly degenerative patients. While some surgeons (and companies) try to stretch the indications of interspinous implant beyond spinal stenosis, like instability, or associated with discectomy, there is no evidence in those domains, and failures have been reported when used to prevent recurrent disk herniations [34] or in presence of degenerative spondylolisthesis [35]. Although rare, some complications have also been reported including foreign body responses to polyethylene wear [36]. A recent biomechanical study compared the behavior of Coflex, Diam, Wallis, and X-Stop on intra discal pressure and restabilization of destabilized spinal segments. The four implants strongly stabilized and reduced intradiscal pressure in sagittal extension but had almost no effect in the other planes of motion [28].
Fig. 5.10.1 (a) Insertion of the InSwing® interspinous device is accomplished via a unilateral approach. (b) Following insertion, the wings of the device automatically open (c) on the contralateral side thus securing the implant between the spinous processes. (d) Following insertion, longitudinal pressure cranially and caudally insure its placement
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Evidence About the Effect of an Added Tension Band The InSwing® (Orthofix Spinal Implants) is a novel device allowing unilateral insertion with self-locking and self-positioning, thanks to a self-opening wing system (Fig. 5.10.1). Once open, the vertical pressure of the adjacent spinal processes keeps the wings locked in open position. The instrumentation allows for a unilateral insertion (Fig. 5.10.2) by means of mirrored hook-shaped tension band inserters who are passed blindly around the adjoining spinous processes, allowing to stay close to the bone without involving the erector spinae muscle on the other side. It also differs from other devices in that it can be used alone or with a tension band around the adjacent processes. Cadaveric studies showed that a calculated tensioning torque of the band has a direct effect on stabilization and opening of disk and foramens [37]. An in vivo animal study demonstrated the important stabilizing effect of the banding during flexion [38]. Ten adolescent Merino lambs (24–30 kg) were used for the study. A destabilization procedure was performed at the level of L1–L2 on both sides, thereby simulating an instability resembling stenotic degenerative spondylolisthesis. Following general anesthesia, the animal
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Fig. 5.10.2 Insertion of the 8-mm InSwing® interspinous device demonstrating (a) the self-pivotating (opening) L-shaped wings allowing for unilateral insertion. (b) Once inserted through the interspinous space, the wings automatically open on the contralateral side securing the implant between the spinous processes
was placed in a side-lying posture and lateral radiographs were taken in full flexion and extension of the trunk. Each radiograph was centered at the level of L1–L2. The same radiographic protocol was repeated following the insertion of an 8-mm InSwing® interspinous device at L1–L2. This insertion required only a minimal dissection of the paraspinal muscles on the left side. The supraspinous ligament remained intact as did the paraspinal muscles on the contralateral side. Finally, a tension band (Fig. 5.10.3) was passed in the implant and around the L1 and L2 spinous processes and tightened to 1 N/m, another new set of flexion–extension radiographs were acquired. The tension was obtained with a proprietary dynamometric band tightening device provided by the implant manufacturer and enforced by securing the band with metal clips. Intersegmental ROM was assessed in each of the conditions and compared using Cobb’s method at the superior endplate of L1 relative to the inferior endplate of L2 (Fig. 5.10.4).
Fig. 5.10.4 Sagittal plane radiographs of the ovine lumbar spine demonstrating the Cobb method of lumbar analysis of L1–L2 of the initial condition (a) and with the InSwing® device in place (b)
Fig. 5.10.3 The tension band is looped through prefabricated holes in the InSwing® interspinous device and subsequently secured around the adjacent spinous processes of L1 and L2 and then tightened to a tension of 1 N/m and fixed with metal clips
5.10 Interspinous Implants: State of the Art and Research of Evidence
Following the first test condition, the L1–L2 destabilization procedure, the mean total sagittal plane intersegmental ROM was 6.3 ± 2.7°. After instrumentation with the InSwing® interspinous implant, the mean total sagittal plane ROM was reduced by 15.9% to 5.3 ± 2.7°. The addition of the tension band, the third test condition, resulted in a 42.9% reduction in total sagittal plane ROM to 3.6 ± 1.9°, as compared to the initial ROM results following the destabilization procedure. These reductions in total sagittal plane ROM, as a result of the implant itself (p > 0.47) and then the addition of the tension band (p > 0.06), were not statistically significant. The mean observed lumbar flexion ROM following the destabilization procedure was 14.3 ± 1.8°. The addition of the interspinous implant without the tension band resulted in an insignificant (p > 0.74) 1.4% reduction in lumbar flexion. In contrast, a 15.4% reduction in lumbar flexion ROM was observed when comparing mean results following the destabilization procedure (14.3 ± 1.8°), to readings made after instrumenting with the InSwing® interspinous implant and securing with the tension band (12.1 ± 3.0°). This reduction in lumbar flexion ROM with the addition of the implant and tension band was statistically significant (p > 0.01). Figure 5.10.5 summarizes the mean changes in lumbar extension, flexion, and ROM from the initial condition, preimplant, to those measurements obtained following 20 Extension Flexion
18
ROM 16 14
Degrees
12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Pre Implant
With Implant No Band With Implant With Band
Fig. 5.10.5 Mean changes in lumbar extension, flexion, and range of motion (ROM) from the initial preimplant condition to those measurements obtained following the implantation of the interspinous device and with the addition of the tension band. Error bars represent the standard deviations of the mean. The asterisk denotes a significant difference (p 0.05. The mean stiffness (± standard deviation) for the intact (A), destabilization (B), InSwing® (C), and InSwing® with tension band (D) conditions were 4.99 ± 0.89, 4.89 ± 0.82, 4.82 ± 0.92, and 5.00 ± 1.20 N/mm, respectively. Results from the one-way ANOVA confirmed that significant differences (p 90–95%), clinical outcomes of the same magnitude have not been achieved [46]. Inappropriate indications, imprecise diagnoses, and psychosocial factors each have been blamed for the high degree of variability in LBP reduction following spinal arthrodesis. This review will assess the published medical evidence that relates to surgery directed toward the treatment of LBP. Categorically, these include studies investigating lumbar fusion and nonfusion technologies. For each treatment, the quality of the medical evidence will be reviewed, such that rational conclusions and recommendations may be made.
Pathophysiology of Low Back Pain A. P. White (*) Carl J. Shapiro Department of Orthopaedics - Stoneman 10, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA 02215, USA e-mail:
[email protected] Our comprehension of the etiology and mechanisms associated with LBP is in evolution. It is anticipated that an improved and more detailed understanding may
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help guide treatment. Categorizing patients as to the cause of their pain is currently challenging. Findings on diagnostic imaging consistent with lumbar disk degeneration can be found in 34% of asymptomatic people between 20 and 39 years of age, 59% of asymptomatic people between 40 and 59 years of age, and 93% of asymptomatic people between 60 and 80 years of age [7]. It is critical to recognise that disk degeneration is not ubiquitously associated with LBP. Similarly, LBP is not always associated with subjective findings of degeneration. With normal physiologic aging, the nucleus pulposus desiccates, causing the typical “dark disk” phenomenon commonly seen on T2-weighted MR sequences. This loss of water and nucleus pulposus volume is associated with buckling of the annulus fibrosus. The balance in the breakdown and anabolic repair of trivalent pyridinoline cross-links, responsible for tissue cohesiveness, is subsequently upset. This leads to apoptosis and degeneration of arterioles supplying both the disk and the vertebral endplates. Resultant loss of nutrient and oxygen supply causes excessive lactic acid production, more apoptosis, and further degeneration. Posttranslational protein modification and cell senescence also affect the mechanical characteristics and the recovery capabilities of the involved disk. Analogous degeneration occurs at the end plates, with thinning and fissure formation. This increases permeability and allows disproportionate load bearing that may be related to disk degeneration findings [5]. While physiologic aging and disk degeneration are commonly thought to be associated with LBP, nerve sensitization and proliferation are more directly and more commonly related to the syndrome. A recent nerve sensitization investigation compared 19 disks excised from patients with discogenic LBP to 12 nonpainful but degenerated disks. Ten nondegenerated disks were also studied as a control. Histological immunostaining showed that the painful disks contained increased numbers of nerve fibers sensitive to neurofilament 200 (NF), substance P (SP), and vasoactive-intestinal peptide (VIP) [34]. These inflammatory mediators are established chemical messengers for pain. Nerve sensitization is likely to be one factor to explain why similarly degenerated disks may be associated with dramatically dissimilar clinical presentations of LBP. Excessive nerve growth with subsequent nerve sensitization may be caused by disk degeneration and
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may be a origin of LBP for many patients [34]. Nerve ingrowth occurs primarily within vascularized granulation tissue, extending from the nucleus pulposus to the outer annulus, along tears likely resulting from disk degeneration. During compression and movement, fluid may leak from these fissures causing irritation. Release of inflammatory cytokines such as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and Interleukins 6 and 8 (IL6, IL-8) may be responsible for nerve sensitization in the painful disk. Nitric oxide (NO) and phospholipase A2 (PLA2) have also been detected in the granulation tissue [34]. Using similar pathways, these mediators have been linked to hyperalgesia in animal studies [1, 31]. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have also been implicated in LBP. They are a family of zinc-utilizing enzymes that are suspected to be active in disk herniation and posterior longitudinal ligament rupture. Inflammatory mediators upregulate MMP action and are therefore found densely within the granulation tissue. It is speculated that the wide array of MMP actions such as neovascularization and macrophage infiltration may be responsible for spontaneous disk resorption after herniation [5]. These data concerning the degenerative mechanisms that may be related to LBP have prompted the development of treatments aimed at the chemical source. Antibodies and receptor antagonists to the pain-causing agents such as TNF-a, MMPs, and IL-1 are in early clinical trials and show promising results [27, 31].
Is Chronic Low Back Pain Treatable with Surgery? Many surgeons and investigators continue to debate whether or not discogenic chronic LBP should be treated with surgery. A handful of recently reported prospective randomized trials have addressed this question from varied perspectives. Some have considered fusion, while others have considered total disk arthroplasty as surgical treatment for LBP. Many other studies, while they may not represent level one evidence, (Table 6.2.1) do offer important contributions to the issue of whether and how discogenic LBP might be surgically treated [3, 9, 10, 13, 19, 21, 23, 33].
6.2 Review of the Medical Evidence Regarding the Surgical Treatment of Low Back Pain
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Table 6.2.1 Levels of evidence Types of studies Therapeutic studies – investigating the results of treatment
Prognostic studies – investigating the effect of a patient characteristic on the outcome of disease
Diagnostic studies – investigating a diagnostic test
Economic and decision analyses – developing an economic or decision model
Level I
High-quality randomized controlled trial with statistically significant difference or no statistically significant difference, but narrow confidence intervals Systematic reviewa of level-I randomized controlled trials (and study results were homogeneousb)
High-quality prospective studyc (all patients were enrolled at the same point in their disease with ³80% follow-up of enrolled patients) Systematic reviewa of level-I studies
Testing of previously developed diagnostic criteria in series of consecutive patients (with universally applied reference “gold” standard) Systematic reviewa of level-I studies
Sensible costs and alternatives; values obtained from many studies; multiway sensitivity analyses Systematic reviewa of level-I studies
Level II
Lesser-quality randomized controlled trial (e.g.,
