Document Detail


Laminectomy in Patients With Achondroplasia: The Impact of Time to Surgery on Long-term Function.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20739914     Owner:  NLM     Status:  In-Data-Review    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
STUDY DESIGN.: Retrospective analysis, survey. OBJECTIVE.: To describe a cohort of individuals with achondroplasia undergoing thoracolumbar laminectomy and to examine if shorter time to surgery was related to improvement in long-term functional outcome. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA.: Data on the long-term benefits of laminectomy are mixed for such patients. Earlier intervention may be associated with greater likelihood of long-term benefit, but quantified data are lacking. METHODS.: We retrospectively studied 49 patients with achondroplasia who underwent primary laminectomy for spinal stenosis. Patients completed a questionnaire to assess symptoms, walking distance, and independence (per Modified Rankin Scale), before surgery and currently. Responses were analyzed for the likelihood of improved walking distance or Rankin level. RESULTS.: Our patients had the following mean values: age, 37.7 ± 10.6 years; body mass index, 31.8 ± 5.5; symptom duration, 74.0 ± 100.1 months; preoperative symptom severity score, 2.7 ± 1.0 points; mean changes in blocks walked, +0.39 ± 2.0; and Rankin level, +0.08 ± 1.47. Patients with a time-to-surgery interval of <6 months were 7.13 times (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.39-36.66) more likely to experience improvement in walking distance and 4.00 times (95% CI, 1.05-15.21) more likely to experience Rankin level improvement than patients whose interval was >6 months. Intervals of up to 12 and 24 months were associated with increased likelihoods of 4.95 (95% CI, 1.41-17.41) and 3.43 (95% CI, 1.05-11.22), respectively, of improved walking distance compared with those with longer time-tosurgery intervals, but those Rankin level improvements were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION.: Time from symptom onset to surgery in patients with achondroplasia is an important predictor of long-term functional outcome. For sustained long-term postsurgical improvement, the window of opportunity might be relatively narrow. Patients with achondroplasia should seek medical advice for spinal stenotic symptoms as soon as possible.
Authors:
Emily Streyer Carlisle; Beverlie L Ting; Madeel A Abdullah; Richard L Skolasky; Joshua G Schkrohowsky; Mary T Yost; Daniele Rigamonti; Michael C Ain
Related Documents :
17559724 - Post-thymectomy combined treatment of prednisone and tacrolimus versus prednisone alone...
17965404 - Improvement in congenital heart surgery in a developing country: the guatemalan experie...
17544084 - Bariatric operations in veterans affairs and selected university medical centers: resul...
22608804 - Surgical and radiosurgical results of the treatment of cerebral arteriovenous malformat...
20890224 - Infectious pin complication rates in halo vest fixators using ceramic versus metallic p...
10752494 - How is gout managed in primary care? a review of current practice and proposed guidelines.
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Spine     Volume:  36     ISSN:  1528-1159     ISO Abbreviation:  Spine     Publication Date:  2011 May 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-05-04     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7610646     Medline TA:  Spine (Phila Pa 1976)     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  886-92     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
From the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Dissolution of primary intimate relationships during incarceration and associations with post-releas...
Next Document:  Thermomechanical effects of spine surgery rods composed of different metals and alloys.