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Panagiotis Korovessis

Publications and source records attributed to Panagiotis Korovessis.

25 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2002

Natural History of Untreated Scoliosis in beta-Thalassemia.

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study was performed. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the natural history of untreated scoliosis in beta-thalassemia patients in a 10-year period. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Several previous studies have demonstrated the bone deformities, particularly the high incidence of scoliosis, that is associated with beta-thalassemia. However, little is known about the evolution of scoliosis curvatures, and almost nothing is known about the natural history of this type of scoliosis and its associated lateral spinal curvatures. METHODS: From a group of 115 patients with beta-thalassemia who were evaluated for scoliosis 10 years ago, 43 patients (37%) were re-evaluated 10 years later to study the evolution of the untreated scoliosis and lateral spinal curvatures. Scoliosis, thoracic kyphosis, thoracolumbar kyphosis, and lumbar lordosis were measured both in the initial and last observation and were compared with each other. All changes in scoliosis curve location, direction, and rate of resolving, as well as the changes in the magnitude of the lateral spine curves, were recorded. RESULTS: Scoliosis curves of more than 5 degrees were present in 34 (79%) of the 43 patients who were followed. Scoliosis progressed but was not statistically significant in 12% of the patients with thalassemia in a 10-year span. Ten years ago, 12 patients (28%) showed scoliosis of 10 degrees to 14 degrees, whereas in the last evaluation, 15 patients (35%) had scoliosis of 10 degrees to 19 degrees. The S-shaped scoliosis curve pattern was the most common (29%). In 10 years, the scoliosis curve pattern remained unchanged in 38% of the patients, and it changed in 38%, whereas 24% of the minor curves (5-9 degrees ) showed spontaneous "self-resolving" character. In the last evaluation, there were seven patients (16%) with new cases of scoliosis de novo. There was no sex-related predominance in prevalence of scoliosis in this series. There was a significant skeletal mature retardation in the patients with beta-thalassemia. There was a significant increase of thoracic and thoracolumbar kyphosis and a decrease of lumbar lordosis. The changes in the sagittal profile were not correlated to scoliosis in this group of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Scoliosis in beta-thalassemia appeared with increased prevalence but with small curves of 5 degrees to 19 degrees that did not need active orthopedic treatment. However, a few cases progressed to curves less than 20 degrees, and only one patient (2.9%) showed a severe curve that showed much progression. The behavior of scoliosis in beta-thalassemia differs significantly from that in idiopathic scoliosis. The skeletal disorders that are caused by this hematologic dysfunction seem to be responsible for the spinal deformities and their evolution.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Correlative analysis of lateral vertebral radiographic variables and medical outcomes study short-form health survey: a comparative study in asymptomatic volunteers versus patients with low back pain.

This prospective comparative study was designed to investigate the possible link between SF-36 functional status and lateral roentgenographic variables of the standing lumbar spine in patients with low back pain (LBP) versus asymptomatic volunteers. To the authors' knowledge, no previous studies have correlated SF-36 scores and sagittal roentgenographic variables in patients with LBP versus asymptomatic individuals. A total of 100 male volunteers, used as controls, and an equal number of age-, height-, and weight-comparable patients of the same ethnicity with chronic LBP were compared on the basis of roentgenographic and SF-36 data. The roentgenographic variables that were measured included the following: lumbar lordosis, sacral inclination, L1-S1 vertebral inclination, L4-S1 distal lordosis, disc index, and L1-L5 vertebral index. These variables were correlated with the eight SF-36 scales both in patients and controls. As the patients with LBP get older, they show lower functional scores in Role-Emotional (p < 0.01) and Physical Functioning (p < 0.01). Body height was not found to be a predisposition favoring LBP, but tall patients with LBP showed less Bodily Pain than patients of short stature (p < 0.001). This study showed that patients with LBP had significantly lower scores than their asymptomatic counterparts in the following SF-36 scales: Role-Physical (p < 0.01), Bodily Pain (p < 0.01), Role-Emotional (p = 0.058), and Mental Health (p < 0.001). In the controls General Health, Physical Functioning, Social Functioning, and Role-Emotional, Bodily Pain, Mental Health, and Vitality correlated statistically significantly with individuals' age, height, weight, lumbar lordosis, sacral inclination, inclination of L1, L3, and L5 vertebra, L1-L5 vertebral index, and L1-L2, L2-L3, L3-L4, L4-L5, and L5-S1 disc index. For the patients with LBP this study showed that General health, Physical Functioning, Role-Emotional, Social Functioning, and Bodily Pain were significantly correlated with age, height, L1-L2 inclination, distal lordosis, L2-L5 index, and L4-L5 and L5-S1 disc index. This comparative study showed that the functional status of hard-working patients with chronic LBP is associated with degenerative changes on the lateral radiographs of the lumbosacral spine. Spine surgeons should take into consideration the results of this study in reconstruction of painful degenerative lumbosacral spine.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Does coralline hydroxyapatite conduct fusion in instrumented posterior spine fusion?

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to investigate the course of incorporation of coralline hydroxyapatite in human spine. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Conventional techniques for surgical treatment of spine have a substantial failure rate and associated morbidity. Bone graft substitutes are an alternative technique to enhance fusion rates and limit the morbidity associated with spine fusion using autologous iliac crest bone graft. There are some experimental studies supporting the use of hydroxyapatite in spine surgery. MATERIAL & METHODS: During revision surgery specimens derived from the fusion mass from 15 operations in 13 patients, who received spinal instrumentation and fusion in cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine and addition of coralline hydroxyapatite. The age of patients at the time of revision surgery was 46 +/- 20 years. The time lapsed from the implantation of coralline hydroxyapatite and revision surgery was 11 +/- 9 months. The indication for revision surgery was infection, pseudarthrosis, technical error, and pain related to bulky hardware. The diagnosis for the primary fusion was degenerative disease, trauma and scoliosis, and the material of instrumentation used was composed from titanium alloy. The coralline hydroxyapatite was applied on the decorticated posterior elements of the instrumented spine. Material from ten different places from the fusion mass was intraoperatively taken in all patients and was sent for histological evaluation using the Hematoxylin-eosin histological stain technique and photomicroscope. RESULTS: Under photomicroscope there was a remarkable concentration of foreign-body like giant cells & development of inflammatory granulation tissue around hydroxyapatite, which was gradually replaced by dense connective collagen tissue. Both inflammatory granulation and collagen tissue showed areas with foreign body reaction. In the cases, where bone has developed, the most initial finding was the presence of osteoblasts & apposition of osteoid in contact to hydroxyapatite granules. In a later phase, cancellous and lamellar bone has developed as a result of secondary ossification. Bone formation was observed in 11/15 cases and was related with the patient's age in favor of young patients (R=0.56, P<0.05), while there was no correlation with time lapsed from operation. CONCLUSION: Coralline hydroxyapatite conducts bone formation in spine surgery because in the vast majority of the operated cases for different spinal disorders bone and osteoid has developed around the implanted coralline hydroxyapatite.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

The significance of correlation of radiographic variables and MOS short-form health survey for clinical decision in symptomatic low back pain patients.

OBJECTIVES: To assess any correlation between SF-36 scores and several lateral roentgenographic variables of the lumbar spine, both in low back pain patients and asymptomatic volunteers. The clinical relevance of the method proposed in this study to make a surgical strategy on the basis of distinct lateral roentgenographic parameters and conversely was assessed by independent radiologists and physicians. METHODS: One hundred asymptomatic male volunteers, used as controls and an equal number of age-, height- and weight- comparable consecutive patients with chronic low back pain were examined both roentgenographically and with the SF-36 questionnaire. The roentgenographic variables measured were: lumbar lordosis, sacral inclination, L1 to S1 vertebral inclination, L4-S1 distal lordosis, disc index, and L1 to L5 vertebral index. These variables were correlated with the eight SF-36 items both in patients and controls. Both sensitivity and specificity of the method were calculated to assess the impact of subjectivity on the clinical decision. RESULTS: Low back patients showed significantly lower scores than their asymptomatic counterparts, in physical role limitations (P<0.01), severity of bodily pain (P<0.01), interference of bodily pain (P<0.01) and mental health (P<0.001). In the controls, general health, physical functioning, social functioning, and role limitations displayed a statistically significant correlation with age, height, weight, lumbar lordosis, sacral inclination, inclination of L1,L3 & L5-vertebra, L1 to L5-vertebral index and L1-L2, L3-L4, L4-L5 and L5-S1 disc index. In LBP-patients previous general health, physical functioning, role limitations, social functioning, bodily pain were significantly correlated with age, height, L1-and L2-inclination, distal lordosis, L5-index, and disc index L4-L5, and L5-S1. Although the consensus between either radiologists suggesting a strategy on the basis of roentgenographic data only or between physicians based on only SF-36 data was significant (P<0.001), there was no consensus in clinical decision between physicians and radiologists. Clinical decision based on matched SF-36 and roentgenographic data made either by radiologists or surgeons showed significant correlations (P<0.001). However, both sensitivity and specificity of our method to make a clinical decision on the basis of radiology were low: 0.48 and 0.36 respectively. CONCLUSIONS: SF-36 scores were correlated with distinct lateral roentgenographic variables of the lowermost lumbar spine (L4-S1) in low back patients, and of the whole lumbar spine in asymptomatic individuals. Clinical decision should not be taken on the basis of radiological evidence of pathology because clinical decision seems to be more accurate when is taken on the basis of combined SF-36 and roentgenographic data. However, clinical examination is mandatory to SF-36 questionnaire and radiographic analysis.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2002

The role of rigid vs. dynamic instrumentation for stabilization of the degenerative lumbosacral spine.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: This is a prospective comparative randomised study to compare the immediately postoperative effects of a rigid versus dynamic instrumentation for degenerative spine disease and stenosis on the standing sagittal lumbar spine alignment and to investigate if a dynamic spine system can replace the commonly used rigid systems in order to avoid the above mentioned disadvantages of rigid fixation. MATERIAL & METHODS: 15 randomly selected patients received the rigid instrumentation SCS and an equal number of randomly selected patients the dynamic TWINFLEX device for spinal stenosis associated degenerative lumbar disease. The age of the patients, who received rigid and dynamic instrumentation was 65 +/- 9 years and 62 +/- 10 years respectively. All patients had standing spine radiographs preoperatively and three months postoperatively. The parameters that were measured and compared pre- to postoperatively were: lumbar lordosis (L1-S1), total lumbar lordosis (T12-S1), sacral tilt, distal lordosis (L4-S1), intervertebral angulation, vertebral inclination and disc index. RESULTS: The instrumented levels in the spines that received rigid and dynamic instrumentation were 3.5 +/- 0.53 and 3 +/- 0.7 respectively. The instrumented levels from L3 to L5 were 23, the lumbosacral junction was instrumented in 3 patients of group A and in 4 patients of group B. Lumbar lordosis did not significantly change postoperatively, while total lordosis was significantly (P=0.04) increased in the patients who received the rigid instrumentation, while it was significantly (P=0.012) decreased in the group B. Intervertebral angulation of the non-instrumented level L1-L2 was increased in the group A (P=0.01), while the dynamic instrumentation increased (P=0.02) the intervertebral inclination of the adjacent level L2-L3, immediately above the uppermost instrumented level. Distal lordosis and sacral tilt did not change in any patient in both groups. Both instrumentations did not change the lateral vertebral inclination of L1 to L5 vertebrae. Rigid instrumentation increased the lordotic inclination of L5 (P=0.03) and of S1 (P=0.03). Rigid instrumentation increased (P=0.04) the intervertebral angulation at the uppermost instrumented level L3-L4 The most significant change in vertebral angulation was achieved at the instrumented level L4-L5 by the dynamic (P=0.007) and rigid (0.05). The disc index at the level L2-L3 was increased by both instrumentation [dynamic P=0.007 and rigid (P=0.02)]. The index L3-L4 was increased following dynamic fixation (P=0.0007). The disc index L4-L5 was postoperatively increased by both types of instrumentation (rigid P=0.006, dynamic P=0.02). The disc index L5-S1 did not significantly change postoperatively by either system. CONCLUSION: Both rigid and dynamic instrumentations restored lumbar lordosis, sacral tilt, distal lordosis and increased the foraminal diameter at the level L4-L5 resulting in an indirect decompression of the nerve roots at this level . Both rigid and dynamic instrumentations applied in the lumbosacral spine to treat degenerative disease secured L3 to S1 sagittal spine profile close to preoperative levels, that should theoretically guarantee a pain-free postoperative course. This study supports the belief that the dynamic system can be used with the same indications with the rigid in degenerative lumbar spine because it can offer equally good short-term results regarding sagittal spine alignment while simultaneously it has the previously mentioned advantages (avoidance stress shielding etc).

Aged↗