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Thomas M Reilly

Publications and source records attributed to Thomas M Reilly.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Analysis of operative complications in a series of 471 anterior lumbar interbody fusion procedures.

STUDY DESIGN: This retrospective review compares the intraoperative and perioperative complications associated with the placement of threaded devices and nonthreaded devices used in anterior lumbar interbody fusions. OBJECTIVE: Anterior lumbar interbody fusion is a common procedure performed with either a nonthreaded device, such as a femoral ring, or a threaded device, such as with a cage or a bone dowel. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Many studies have been done detailing the fusion rates and biomechanical properties of both devices. However, few studies have been performed evaluating acute complications between the two device types. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed of 471 consecutive patients who underwent anterior lumbar interbody fusion: 243 with a nonthreaded interbody device and 228 with a threaded interbody device. Operative notes, anesthesia reports, discharge summaries, and follow-up notes were reviewed from 1992 to June 2002. The patients' demographics, diagnosis, number of levels fused, type of device used, length of hospital stay, and acute complications, either intraoperative or perioperative, were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Approximately 4.8% of patients with a threaded type interbody device had an intraoperative complication whereas only 0.4% of patients with a nonthreaded type device had an intraoperative complication. There was a significant association between interbody device type (threaded vs. nonthreaded) and occurrence of an intraoperative complication (P = 0.0024). CONCLUSIONS: Placement of threaded devices, such as cages or bone dowels, was associated with a higher acute complication rate than was the placement of nonthreaded devices during anterior lumbar interbody fusion.

Adolescent↗

Anterior-only stabilization of three-column thoracolumbar injuries.

OBJECTIVE: The optimal treatment of "unstable" thoracolumbar injuries remains controversial. Studies have shown the advantages of direct anterior decompression of thoracolumbar injuries along with supplemental posterior instrumentation as a combined or staged procedure. Others have also shown success in decompression as a single-stage anterior procedure, largely limited to two-column (anterior and middle) injuries. A retrospective review of all available clinical and radiographic data was used to classify unstable three-column thoracolumbar fractures according to the Association for the Study of Internal Fixation (AO) classification system. This was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of stand-alone anterior decompression and reconstruction of unstable three-column thoracolumbar injuries, utilizing current-generation anterior spinal instrumentation. METHODS: Between 1992 and 1998, 40 patients underwent anterior decompression and two-segment anteriorly instrumented reconstruction for three-column thoracolumbar fractures. Retrospective review of all available clinical and radiographic data was used to classify these unstable injuries according to the AO classification system, evaluating for neurologic changes, spinal canal compromise, preoperative and postoperative segmental angulation, and arthrodesis rate. RESULTS: According to the AO classification system, there were 24 (60%) type B1.2, 10 (25%) type B2.3, 5 (12.5%) type C1.3, and 1 (2.5%) type C2.1 three-column injuries. Preoperative canal compromise averaged 68.5% and vertebral height loss averaged 44.5%. There were no cases of neurologic deterioration, and 30 (91%) patients with incomplete neurologic deficits improved by at least one modified Frankel grade. Mean preoperative segmental kyphosis of 22.7 degrees was improved to an early mean of 7.4 degrees (P < 0.0001). At latest follow-up, angulation had increased by an average 2.1 degrees but maintained significant improvement from preoperative measurements (P < 0.0001). There was one early construct failure due to technical error. Thirty-seven of the remaining patients (95%) went on to apparently stable arthrodesis. CONCLUSIONS: Current types of anterior spinal instrumentation and reconstruction techniques can allow some types of unstable three-column thoracolumbar injuries to be treated in an anterior stand-alone fashion. This allows direct anterior decompression of neural elements, improvement in segmental angulation, and acceptable rates of arthrodesis without the need for supplemental posterior instrumentation.

Adolescent↗

Early reconstruction failures after multilevel cervical corpectomy.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of graft and plate complications after multilevel anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACF) attributed to spondylosis, stenosis, and ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament was conducted. OBJECTIVE: To identify factors contributing to graft and plate complications in this population. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Biomechanical factors contributing to the increased morbidity associated with plated multilevel ACF were evaluated. METHODS: Graft- and/or plate-related complications were retrospectively reviewed in 33 patients undergoing two-level ACF reconstructions and in seven patients having three-level ACF reconstructions performed with iliac crest grafting and instrumentation with a fixed-plated design (cervical spine locking plate). Neurologic status was assessed before surgery and after surgery using both the Nurick Grading Scale and modified JOA (Japanese Orthopaedic Association) Score. The patients were observed an average of 31.4 months after surgery. The follow-up included lateral flexion and extension radiographs and a neurologic examination. RESULTS: Two of the 33 patients undergoing two-level fusions available for long-term follow-up after surgery developed reconstruction failures. All of the remaining fusions were successful, demonstrated by lateral flexion and extension radiographs. Seven patients had plated three-level corpectomy reconstructions. Five of the seven who had anterior-only reconstruction failed. DISCUSSION: A two-level ACF reconstruction is reliable with an anterior strut graft and fixed screw plate construct. A three-level ACF reconstruction is not reliably achieved with an anterior-only construct. The construct failures may be attributed in part to the fixed-plated design being used, as well as the long lever arm of the construct. CONCLUSION: There is a 6% failure rate after fixed-plated (cervical spine locking plate) two-level ACF reconstruction but a 71% failure rate after three-level fixed-plated ACF reconstruction. Future consideration should be given to simultaneous posterior fusion.

Bone Plates↗

A double antibody radioimmunoassay for the determination of XV459, the active hydrolysis metabolite of roxifiban, in human plasma.

A radioimmunoassay (RIA) was developed for the determination of XV459, the active hydrolysis metabolite of the oral prodrug roxifiban (DMP 754), in human plasma. XV459 is a potent antagonist of the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor. The method utilizes a competitive double antibody format employing an 125I-labeled XV459 analogue tracer which competes with XV459 for antibody binding sites and a second antibody precipitation step to separate antibody bound analyte from free analyte. The method has a validated lower quantification limit of 0.35 ng/ml (0.81 nM) using 12.5 microl of plasma and with dilution can accommodate clinical plasma samples ranging up to 48.0 ng/ml (110.7 nM). Cross-validation to an existing quantitative liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method showed good correlation (r(2)=0.98). The RIA has been successfully used to assay over 10000 clinical samples with sensitivity and specificity comparable to the LC-MS/MS method, but with faster turn around time and at greatly reduced costs.

Amidines↗

Atlantoaxial stabilization: clinical comparison of posterior cervical wiring technique with transarticular screw fixation.

Symptomatic atlantoaxial instability requires atlantoaxial stabilization. In this study the authors compared clinical, radiographic, and cervical outcome questionnaire results in 67 such patients who underwent 71 separate procedures. Thirty-eight patients had traditional posterior C1-C2 cervical wiring and halo-vest immobilization (group 1), whereas 33 were alternatively managed with transarticular screw fixation without rigid external immobilization (group 2). Mean follow-up in group 1 was 53.2 months and mean follow-up in group 2 was 41.0 months. Radiographic evaluation demonstrated seven pseudoarthroses and four fibrous unions in group 1, with six patients subsequently undergoing reoperation. There were no pseudoarthroses and two fibrous unions in the transarticular screw group (p = 0.015). In those that fused, >2-mm displacement occurred in six of the group 1 patients (p = 0.027). There was a trend toward fewer complications in group 2 patients (p = 0.085) with four complications, as compared with 12 complications in group 1, including a 21% incidence of halo-vest-related complications. These results demonstrate the significant benefits of transarticular screw fixation over posterior cervical wiring techniques in the management of atlantoaxial instability.

Atlanto-Axial Joint↗