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J A Bendo

Publications and source records attributed to J A Bendo.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Importance of correlating static and dynamic imaging studies in diagnosing degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis.

Degenerative spondylolisthesis in the lumbar spine is due to long-standing segmental instability. A standing plain radiograph is commonly the only imaging study needed to establish the diagnosis. Translatory motion in spondylolisthesis is traditionally assessed with lateral flexion and extension radiographs. These dynamic studies often demonstrate a decrease in the slip percentage between the vertebral segments with extension and an increase with forward flexion. Some low-grade spondylolisthetic deformities reduce anatomically on the operating table after the administration of an anesthetic. We encountered one case in which there was complete reduction of an L4-5 grade I degenerative spondylolisthesis with positioning of a non-anesthetized patient in the supine position during a lumbosacral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. The patient's condition was originally misdiagnosed, as the spondylolisthesis was not identified on recumbent plain radiographs or on lumbosacral MRI. This case stresses the importance of correlating static and dynamic imaging studies in developing a treatment plan for patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis.

Female↗

Iatrogenic spondylolysis leading to contralateral pedicular stress fracture and unstable spondylolisthesis: a case report.

STUDY DESIGN: A case report of iatrogenic spondylolysis as a complication of microdiscectomy leading to contralateral pedicular stress fracture and unstable spondylolisthesis. OBJECTIVE: To improve understanding of this condition by presenting a case history and roentgenographic findings of a patient that differ from those already reported and to propose an effective method of surgical management. METHODS: A 67-year-old woman with no history of spondylolysis or spondylolisthesis underwent an L4-L5 microdiscectomy for a left herniated nucleus pulposus 1 year before the current consultation. For the preceding 8 months, she had been experiencing low back and bilateral leg pain. Imaging studies revealed a left L4 spondylolytic defect and a right L4 pedicular stress fracture with an unstable Grade I spondylolisthesis. RESULTS: The patient was treated with posterior spinal fusion, which resulted in complete resolution of her clinical and neurologic symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Iatrogenic spondylolysis after microdiscectomy is an uncommon entity. However, it can lead to contralateral pedicular stress fracture and spondylolisthesis, and thus can be a source of persistent back pain after disc surgery. Surgeons caring for these patients should be aware of this potential complication.

Aged↗

Use of the anterior interbody fresh-frozen femoral head allograft in circumferential lumbar fusions.

Many studies in the literature have documented the outcome of circumferential lumbar fusions. However, no study has specifically evaluated the performance of the anterior fresh-frozen femoral head allograft as a structural interbody graft material. All office and hospital records, including charts and radiographs, were reviewed to obtain pertinent clinical and radiographic information. The cases included 23 single-level fusions, 22 two-level fusions, and 5 fusions of three or more levels. In all, 88 fusion levels were analyzed radiographically. The mean follow-up time was 28 months (range, 24 to 36 months). All procedures were performed in a single stage. At the latest follow-up, clinical outcome was graded good to excellent in 39 (78%) cases, fair in 8 (16%) cases, and poor in 3 (6%) cases. The average time to anterior radiographic fusion was 6 months (range, 4 to 8 months). The overall fusion rate was 98%. The average preoperative anterior disk space height was 10 mm, 14 mm immediately after operation, and 13 mm at follow-up. The posterior disk space height averaged 5 mm before operation, 7 mm immediately after operation, and 6 mm at follow-up. The average segmental lordosis was 7 degrees before operation, 10 degrees immediately after operation, and 10 degrees at follow-up. Late postoperative disk space collapse of 3 mm or more was noted in 17% of the fused disk spaces examined. Seventy-eight percent of the disk spaces maintained a disk space height greater than that of their preoperative value at the latest follow-up. Segmental lordosis did not change significantly at follow-up. The occurrence of collapse did not correlate with the clinical result, smoking history, or surgical indication (p < 0.05). Perioperative complications included one pleural effusion, two urinary tract infections, and one deep wound infection. Late complications included five painful graft sites and two patients with pseudarthrosis. Fresh-frozen femoral head allograft fulfills its desired function as an anterior structural graft in combination with rigid posterior transpedicular fixation, maintaining the disk space height achieved at surgery while reliably allowing remodeling and incorporation into a solid anterior fusion.

Adolescent↗

Instrumented posterior arthrodesis of the lumbar spine in patients with diabetes mellitus.

The existence of diabetes mellitus has been postulated to have a deleterious effect on the outcome following lumbar spine surgery. We retrospectively examined the records and radiographs of 32 diabetic patients (mean age, 60 years) who underwent posterior lumbar fusions using transpedicular instrumentation and iliac crest autograft. Ten patients were insulin-dependent and 22 required oral hypoglycemic agents for at least 1 year prior to surgery. The minimum follow-up time was 2 years after surgery (mean, 2.5 years). Surgical indications included herniated lumbar disk, lumbar spinal stenosis, thoracolumbar trauma, and lumbar pseudarthrosis. Clinical results were evaluated by chart review and/or interview by using Odom's criteria. At follow-up, 75% of patients were graded as excellent or good, and 25% as fair or poor. Twenty-five of 32 patients (78%) had improvement of back pain. Twenty of 27 (74%) patients had improvement of leg pain. Eight of 15 (53%) patients had improvement in motor strength, and 6 of 11 (54%) had improvement in light-touch sensation. Insulin dependence and the presence of polyneuropathy were associated with a poorer outcome. The average time to radiographic fusion was 5 months. Twenty-nine of 32 patients (91%) developed solid fusion by strict radiographic criteria. The three patients with a pseudarthrosis had persistent back pain and a poor result. Ten of 32 (31%) of the patients experienced perioperative complications, including prolonged wound drainage (n = 5), deep wound infection (n = 1), superficial wound infection (n = 1), atrial fibrillation (n = 1), ruptured cerebral aneurysm (n = 1), and ulnar nerve neuropathy (n = 1). We conclude that posterolateral lumbar spinal fusion with internal fixation in diabetic patients yields clinical results comparable to those of nondiabetic patients, with similar risks of perioperative complications.

Bone Screws↗

Collapse of intertrochanteric hip fractures fixed with sliding screws.

A retrospective analysis of postoperative fracture collapse was performed using data from 142 patients with intertrochanteric hip fractures fixed anatomically with sliding screws. Of the 142 patients, 80 had unstable, three- or four-part hip fractures. Significant collapse (as defined by strict radiographic criteria relating the height of the femoral head to the greater trochanter and by Doppelt's criteria) was seen in 26 of the unstable fractures. The degree of collapse was classified as type I (minimal), type II (moderate), and type III (severe). Average follow-up was 31 months. An in-depth clinical and radiographic analysis was performed evaluating pain, limp, abductor weakness, and leg-length discrepancy. The numerical degree of both vertical and horizontal fracture collapse was also analyzed. Of the patients with moderate or severe collapse, 93% had a poor functional result, whereas all the patients with minimal collapse remained asymptomatic. Although postoperative fracture impaction of hips fixed with sliding screws may promote early healing, a high rate of union, and a low rate of hardware failure, excessive collapse is a problem that needs to be addressed.

Aged↗