OBJETIVO: Avaliar a posição das estruturas anatômicas em risco durante a inserção de parafusos pediculares na coluna torácica e sua relação com a variação do ângulo de Cobb. MÉTODOS: Os parâmetros estudados foram: a medida do ângulo de Cobb nas radiografias e a posição da medula espinhal, da cavidade pleural e aorta na ressonância nuclear magnética em relação a uma linha de 40mm criada para simular o parafuso pedicular nas cinco vértebras apicais. RESULTADOS: A distância da aorta ao corpo vertebral e o ângulo de segurança do lado convexo apresentaram diferença estatística quando relacionados com a variação do ângulo de Cobb medido. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados apresentados sugerem maior risco de lesão da artéria aorta com o aumento do ângulo de Cobb e aumento do risco na inserção de parafusos pediculares no lado convexo da curvatura, quando se considera o ângulo de segurança.

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the effects of photodynamic therapy (PDT) on the dura mater using the photosensitizers aluminum chloride phthalocyanine and methylene blue in in vivo assays. Methods Fifty-six male Wistar rats were divided into two groups; one submitted to PDT and the other submitted to the photosensitizers without their photoactivation (control). The photosensitizers were applied to the dura mater after laminectomy at the T10 level. The methods used for assessment were the Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) functional evaluation scale and study of the dura mater by light microscopy. Results No changes in motor activity were observed in the animals submitted to PDT compared to control. Histological and pathological evaluation did not show any differences between the group exposed to activated photosensitizers and the control group with regard to the inflammatory process and tissue necrosis. Conclusion The joint use of PDT with the photosensitizing pharmaceuticals aluminum chloride phthalocyanine and methylene blue did not induce any clinical neurotoxic effects or histological changes in the dura mater of the animals studied. Level de evidence V; Expert Opnion.

ABSTRACT Objective To present the preliminary results of the bipolar technique for the surgical treatment of neuromuscular spine deformities. Methods Five patients with neuromuscular scoliosis (cerebral palsy – 3 patients, spinal amyotrophy – 1 patient, and genetic syndrome – 1 patient) underwent surgical treatment using the bipolar technique and were evaluated 12 months after the operation. Results General care and the ability to sit improved in all patients. The main curve ranged from 64.7 to 84.1 degrees (mean 70.58 ± 7.1) in the preoperative period and from 2.6 to 50.3 degrees (mean 25.50 ± 16.0) in the postoperative period with 64% correction. Corrections of pelvic obliquity (85%), T4-T12 kyphosis (43%), the Pisa angle (69%) and the sacroclavicular angle (60%) were observed 12 months following surgery. Postoperative infection (2 patients) and pneumonia (1 patient) were the complications observed. Conclusion The bipolar technique presented good clinical and radiological results associated with low morbidity in the treatment of neuromuscular spine deformities. Level of evidence IV; Case series.

ABSTRACT Spinal cord injuries can have serious consequences for the individual, such as loss of motor function, sensory impairment, and alteration of physiological systems functions. Treatments for spinal cord injuries involve the use of drugs and surgical approaches. In the surgical field, there is a question about the ideal time after the trauma to perform the surgical procedure. The studies divide the time until surgery after the injury into two categories: “early” and “late”. To review the scientific literature on this topic, and to assess the relative effectiveness of early versus late decompressive surgery, we considered early intervention up to 24 hours and late intervention from 24 hours after the injury. For this, we performed a literature review and selected retrospective, prospective observational studies, clinical studies, and reviews with meta-analysis that compared the recovery time of patients with spinal cord injury after surgeries performed within 24 hours (early) and after 24 hours (late). The results showed potential for neurological improvement with early or even ultra-early surgical decompression (up to 12 hours) in patients with traumatic cervical spinal cord injury. On the other hand, reports about the advantage of early decompression when there is a thoracic injury are scarce. In addition to the time to decompression, the concomitant use of some drugs seems to play an important role in patients’ recovery. Level of Evidence II; Literature review.

ABSTRACT Objective Considering that the technique of spinous process splitting has been advocated as a less invasive treatment of lumbar stenosis, the objective of this study was to evaluate the preliminary results of this technique in the surgical treatment of lumbar canal stenosis. Methods Twenty patients with lumbar spinal canal stenosis who underwent surgical treatment for lumbar canal decompression with the spinous process splitting technique were assessed in the preoperative period and on postoperative days 1, 7 and 30 for VAS for lower back and lower limbs pain and radiographic evaluation of the operated segment. Results The mean visual analogue scale score for lumbar pain in the preoperative assessment was 4.2 ± 3.37 and 0.85 ± 0.88, 1.05 ± 1.19 and 1.15 ± 1.04 after 1, 7 and 30 postoperative days, respectively. The mean VAS score for lower limb pain was 8 ± 1.72 preoperatively, and 0.7 ± 1.13, 0.85 ± 1.04, and 1.05 ± 1 after 1, 7, and 30 postoperative days, respectively. There were no radiographic signs of instability of the vertebral segment operated in the radiographic evaluation. Conclusions Decompression of the lumbar canal through the spinous process splitting technique in patients with lumbar canal stenosis had good immediate and short-term results in relation to low back and lower limbs pain. Level of evidence IV; Therapeutic Study.

ABSTRACT Objectives: To evaluate the complications of surgical treatment in a group of patients with spinal metastasis with epidural compression, undergoing surgical treatment. Methods: This is a comparative retrospective study (level of evidence III), which evaluated 96 patients with spinal metastases undergoing surgical treatment. Intra- and postoperative complications were obtained from the patients’ medical records and correlated with the following clinical characteristics: tumor type, tumor location, neurological deficit, age, number of affected vertebrae, Tokuhashi scale, Tomita scale, Karnofsky performance scale, and type of approach. Results: Complications of surgical treatment were observed in 29 (30.20%) patients. Surgical wound infection was the most frequent complication, observed in 15% of patients. Conclusions: Surgical treatment of spinal metastases presents complications in about 30% of patients and their occurrence should be considered in the treatment planning, weighing the risks and benefits for achieving the treatment goals. Level III evidence; Retrospective Study.

ABSTRACT Percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy causes less damage to the paravertebral musculature, with preservation of bone structure and rapid recovery. This innovation allows the surgery to be performed on an outpatient basis, due to the faster recovery time. The anesthesia traditionally performed was general anesthesia, and then conscious sedation. The prone position has always been a major challenge for anesthesiologists. In order to avoid any type of respiratory depression, and based on our own experience with obstetric analgesia, we propose to perform an analgesic spinal anesthesia, a technique not yet found for this type of surgery in the world literature. Level of evidence I; Quality of Evidence A

ABSTRACT Objective: In Brazil, there are no studies comparing endoscopic treatment of lumbar disc herniation with the conventional open technique in SUS (Unified Health System) with regard to hospitalization time and complications occurring within one year, which is the objective of this study. Methods: A survey of 32 surgeries performed in 2019 (11 open and 21 endoscopic) to evaluate pain parameters before and after surgery (VAS), days of hospitalization, and complications. The data were submitted to statistical analysis (ANOVA) using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: Fourteen patients were female and eighteen were male, with a mean age of 41.35 years (p> 0.05 between sexes). The pre- and postoperative VAS for pain radiating to the lower limb were similar between the groups: 8.5 ± 0.82 with the open technique and 8.19 ± 1.15 with endoscopic technique. In both groups there was an improvement in the pain pattern with a significant reduction in the VAS (p < 0.05) and there was no statistical relevance between the groups in terms of pain improvement. There was statistical relevance between the groups in the comparison of days of hospitalization required, with the group submitted to endoscopic surgery having a lower number of days. The complications reported were compatible with those found in the literature (postoperative dysesthesia, new herniation). Conclusions: The endoscopic technique resulted in an important reduction in the number of days of hospitalization, a factor with a high impact on the costs of any surgical procedure, which can be a determining factor in the feasibility of minimally invasive techniques. Level of evidence IV; Therapeutic Study.

Abstract Objective The present study aimed to develop and evaluate the use of customized guides in patients undergoing surgery to correct vertebral deformity with a pedicular fixation system. Methods Four patients with spinal deformity (three with idiopathic scoliosis and one with congenital kyphoscoliosis) underwent surgical treatment to correct the deformity with a pedicular fixation system. Prototypes of 3D cost guides were developed and evaluated using technical feasibility, accuracy, and radiation exposure. Results The present study included 85 vertebral pedicles in which pedicle screws were inserted into the thoracic spine (65.8%) and into the lumbar spine (34.2%). Technical viability was positive in 46 vertebral pedicles (54.1%), with 25 thoracic (54%) and 21 lumbar (46%). Technical viability was negative in 39 pedicles (45.9%), 31 of which were thoracic (79.5%), and 8 were lumbar (20.5%). In assessing accuracy, 36 screws were centralized (78.2%), of which 17 were in the thoracic (36.9%) and 19 in the lumbar spine (41.3%). Malposition was observed in 10 screws (21.7%), of which 8 were in the thoracic (17.4%) and 2 in the lumbar spine (4.3%). The average radiation record used in the surgical procedures was of 5.17 ± 0.72 mSv, and the total time of use of fluoroscopy in each surgery ranged from 180.3 to 207.2 seconds. Conclusion The customized guide prototypes allowed the safe preparation of the pilot orifice of the vertebral pedicles in patients with deformities with improved accuracy and reduced intraoperative radiation.