Two-Year Outcomes of Midline lumbar Fusion Versus Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion in the Treatment of L4-L5 Degenerative Disease

Objective We aimed to compare the clinical and radiological outcomes of midline lumbar fusion(MIDLF)versus minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion(MI-TLIF)in patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis and/or stenosis in L4-L5 two years after surgery.Methods Consecutively treated patients with lumbar pathology who underwent MIDLF(n=16)and a historical control group who underwent MI-TLIF(n=34)were included.Clinical symptoms were evaluated using Oswestry Disability Index(ODI),the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey,and visual analog scale(VAS)scores before surgery and 3,6,12,and 24 months after surgery.Results The mean operative time and hematocrit(HCT,Day 1)were significantly shorter and lower in MIDLF cases(174 min vs.229 min,P<0.001;0.34 vs.0.36,P=0.037).The MI-TLIF group showed better improvement than the MIDLF group in ODI and VAS back and leg pain at 3 months postoperatively.VAS leg pain was higher in MIDLF than in MI-TLIF cases at 6 months.At 24 months follow-up,VAS back pain was higher in MI-TLIF than in MIDLF cases(P=0.018).Conclusion MIDLF is comparable to MI-TLIF at L4-5 in clinical outcomes and fusion rates,and the results verified the meaningful advantage of using MIDLF for the elderly with osteoporosis.

Minimally Invasive Surgical Technique in Double Aortic Arch with Distal Atretic Left-Side in Infant:From a Single-Surgeon Clinical Experience

Background:Double aortic arch(DAA)with distal left-sided aortic arch atresia(LAAA)can form complete vascular ring by ligamentum connection.We aimed to introduce an uncommon DAA-LAAA diagnosis and treatment by the minimally invasive surgical technique(MIST).Methods:We retrospectively reviewed 7 cases of DAA-LAAA that were treated from January 2017 to July 2021.All infant patients underwent surgical repair by minimally invasive surgical technique.Mean follow-up was 14.43 months(range,5–21 months).Results:There were seven patients with DAA-LAAA,including six males and one female.Median age was 19.29 months(range,9.0–29.0 months).Median weight was 11.30 kg(range,9.6–13.0 kg).Three patients were found severe tracheal compression by cardiac computed tomography angiography(cCTA).Six patients with isolated DAA-LAAA were performed operations through left subaxillary minithoracotomy,and one patient with ventricular septal defect(VSD)was performed operation concurrently under the cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB)through right subaxillary minithoracotomy.All patients had symptom improvement in the postoperative period and discharged successfully.Follow-up data showed good results in short-term.Conclusions:We introduce a new surgical pathway for DAA-LAAA treatment with good symptomatic relief in short-term.MIST is a safe,feasible and economical approach for infant patients.

Concomitant atypical knee gout and seronegative rheumatoid arthritis:A case report

BACKGROUND Gout and seronegative rheumatoid arthritis(SNRA)are two distinct inflammatory joint diseases whose co-occurrence is relatively infrequently reported.Limited information is available regarding the clinical management and prognosis of these combined diseases.CASE SUMMARY A 57-year-old woman with a 20-year history of joint swelling,tenderness,and morning stiffness who was negative for rheumatoid factor and had a normal uric acid level was diagnosed with SNRA.The initial regimen of methotrexate,leflunomide,and celecoxib alleviated her symptoms,except for those associated with the knee.After symptom recurrence after medication cessation,her regimen was updated to include iguratimod,methotrexate,methylprednisolone,and folic acid,but her knee issues persisted.Minimally invasive needle-knife scope therapy revealed proliferating pannus and needle-shaped crystals in the knee,indicating coexistent SNRA and atypical knee gout.After postarthroscopic surgery to remove the synovium and urate crystals,and following a tailored regimen of methotrexate,leflunomide,celecoxib,benzbromarone,and allopurinol,her knee symptoms were significantly alleviated with no recurrence observed over a period of more than one year,indicating successful management of both conditions.CONCLUSION This study reports the case of a patient concurrently afflicted with atypical gout of the knee and SNRA and underscores the significance of minimally invasive joint techniques as effective diagnostic and therapeutic tools in the field of rheumatology and immunology.

Comparison of a minimally invasive osteosynthesis technique with conventional open surgery for transverse patellar fractures

Parpose:The study aims to compare the efficacy and safety of a new minimally invasive osteosynthesis technique with those of conventional open surgery for transverse patellar fractures.Methods:It was a retrospective study.Adult patients with closed transverse patellar fracture were included,and with open comminuted patellar fracture were excluded.These patients were divided into minimally invasive osteosynthesis technique(MIOT)group and open reduction and internal fixation(ORIF)group.Surgical time,frequency of intraoperative fluoroscopy,visual analogue scale score,flexion,extension,Lysholm knee score,infection,malreduction,implant migration and implant irritation in two groups were recorded and compared.Statistical analysis was performed by the SPsS software package(version 19).A p<0.05 indicated statistical significance.Results:A total of 55 patients with transverse patellar fractures enrolled in this study,the minimally invasive technique was performed in 27 cases,and open reduction was performed in 28 cases.The surgical time in the ORIF group was shorter than that in the MIOT group(p=0.033).The visual analogue scale scores in the MIOT group were significantly lower than those in the ORIF group only in the first month after surgery(p=0.015).Flexion was restored faster in the MIOT group than that in the ORIF group at one month(p=0.001)and three months(p=0.015).Extension was recovered faster in the MIOT group than that in the ORIF group at one month(p=0.031)and three months(p=0.023).The recorded Lysholm knee scores in the MIOT group were always greater than those in the ORIF group.Complications,such as infection,malreduction,implant migration,and implant irritation,occurred more frequently in the ORIF group.Conclusion:Compared with the ORIF group,the MIOT group reduced postoperative pain and had less complications and better exercise rehabilitation.Although it requires a long operation time,MIOT may be a wise choice for transverse patellar fractures.

Current practice of live donor nephrectomy in Turkey

BACKGROUND Over the last few years,the deceased donor organ donation rate was declined or remained stable,whereas the live donor organ donation rate has increased to compensate for the demand.Minimally invasive techniques for live donor nephrectomy(LDN)have also improved the live donor kidney donation rates.This increase has led to an interest in the surgical procedures used for LDN.AIM To evaluate the LDN techniques performed in Turkey,the structure of surgical teams,and the training received.Additionally,the number of kidney transplantations at different centers,the surgeon experience level,differences in surgical approach during donor surgeries,and outcomes were assessed.METHODS A questionnaire was sent to the Turkish Ministry of Health-accredited transplant centers.It inquired of the number of LDN surgeries,surgical techniques,complications,optimization protocols,the experience of surgeons,and the training.Descriptive statistics were outlined as follows:Discrete numeric variables were expressed as medians(minimum-maximum),while categorical variables were shown as numbers and percentages.As a result of the goodness-of-fit tests,if the significance of the differences between the groups in discrete numerical variables for which the parametric test statistical assumptions were not met,data were analyzed with the Mann Whitney U test and theχ^(2)test.RESULTS The questionnaire was sent to 72 transplant centers,all of which replied.Five centers that reported not performing LDN procedures were excluded.Responses from the remaining 67 centers were analyzed.In 2019,the median number of kidney transplants performed was 45,and the median number of kidney transplants from living donors was 28(1-238).Eleven(16.5%)centers performed 5-10,while 34(50.7%)centers performed more than 100 live donor kidney transplants in 2019.While 19(28.4%)centers performed the LDN procedures using the open technique,48(71.6%)centers implemented minimally invasive techniques.Among the centers preferring minimally invasive techniques for LDN,eight(16.6%)used more than one surgical technique.The most and the least common surgical techniques were transperitoneal laparoscopic(43 centers,89.6%)and single port laparoscopic LDN(1 center,2.1%)techniques,respectively.A positive association was found between the performance of minimally invasive techniques and the case volume of a transplant center,both in the total number and live donor kidney transplants(15 vs 55,P=0.001 and 9 vs 42,P≤0001 respectively).The most frequently reported complication was postoperative atelectasis(n=33,49.2%).There was no difference between the techniques concerning complications except for the chyle leak.CONCLUSION Turkish transplant centers performed LDN surgeries successfully through various techniques.Centers implementing minimally invasive techniques had a relatively higher number of live donor kidney transplants in 2019.

Cerebral corridor creator for resection of trigone ventricular tumors:Two case reports

BACKGROUND Resection of deep intracranial tumors requires significant brain retraction,which frequently causes brain damage.In particular,tumor in the trigone of the lateral ventricular presents a surgical challenge due to its inaccessible location and intricate adjacent relationships with essential structures such as the optic radiation(OR)fibers.New brain retraction systems have been developed to minimize retraction-associated injury.To date,there is little evidence supporting the superiority of any retraction system in preserving the white matter tract integrity.This report illustrates the initial surgical excision in two patients using a new retraction system termed the cerebral corridor creator(CCC)and demonstrates its advantage in protecting OR fibers.CASE SUMMARY We report two patients with nonspecific symptoms,who had trigone ventricular lesions that involved the neighboring OR identified on preoperative diffusion tensor imaging(DTI).Both patients underwent successful surgical excision using the CCC.Total tumor removal was achieved without additional neurological deficit.DTI showed that the OR fibers were preserved along the surgical field.Preoperative symptoms were alleviated immediately after surgery.Clinical outcomes were improved according to the Glasgow-Outcome-Scale and Activity-of-Daily-Living Scale assessments.CONCLUSION In the two cases,the CCC was a safe and useful tool for creating access to the deep trigonal area while preserving the white matter tract integrity.The CCC is thus a promising alternative brain retractor.