Publications by authors named "Eeric Truumees"
Article Synopsis
- Vertebrogenic pain, often linked to damage in vertebral endplates, is transmitted through the basivertebral nerve (BVN) and is associated with Modic changes visible on MRI.
- A five-year follow-up of three clinical trials assessing intraosseous radiofrequency ablation (BVNA) shows significant pain and functional improvement in patients with chronic low back pain.
- Out of 320 participants, 249 (78%) completed the study, revealing major reductions in pain scores and enhancements in disability index, demonstrating BVNA as an effective treatment option.
Article Synopsis
- Obesity is linked to various health issues, including affecting spine surgery outcomes; this meta-analysis evaluates its impact on surgical patients.
- The study reviewed data from 35,639 patients, comparing 9,369 obese individuals (BMI ≥ 30) with 26,270 non-obese patients (BMI < 30), analyzing both patient-reported outcomes and surgical metrics.
- Findings indicate that while obese patients reported similar outcomes in terms of disability and pain, they faced longer surgical times, more blood loss, extended hospital stays, and higher rates of complications compared to non-obese patients.
Article Synopsis
- The study is a retrospective cohort analysis aimed at understanding how vertebral artery injury (VAI) affects adverse events in patients with blunt cervical spine trauma.
- It reviewed data from over 128,000 patients, highlighting that those with VAI faced significantly higher risks of major complications like myocardial infarction, stroke, and longer hospital stays.
- The findings suggest that VAI is linked to more severe injuries, indicating a need for careful monitoring and management of these patients in clinical settings.
Article Synopsis
- A retrospective cohort study analyzed 260 patients who had spinal decompression surgery to determine factors linked to high-risk daily morphine milligram equivalent (MME) totals, specifically focusing on dosages ≥100 MME/d due to their high overdose risk.
- The study found that patients classified as "high-risk MME" were significantly younger, had higher body mass indexes (BMIs), and reported more severe preoperative pain, alongside more frequent prior opioid use and receiving ketamine during surgery.
- The results highlight important independent risk factors for high MME, including younger age, elevated BMIs, preoperative pain scores, and previous opioid use, indicating that monitoring and managing these variables is vital to reducing overdose risks.
Study Design: Retrospective analysis.
Objective: This study sought to report the long-term outcomes of patients that underwent minimally invasive surgery (MIS) correction for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) in terms of radiographic, clinical, and patient-reported outcomes. Furthermore, we examined the learning curve of MIS technique over the course of 13 years.
Article Synopsis
- Osteopenia, osteoporosis, and fragility fractures are major public health issues, and the study aimed to identify personal risk factors for these conditions using the UK Biobank data.
- Researchers analyzed data from over 502,000 participants, focusing on 39 variables to determine their association with osteoporosis, fragility fractures, and osteopenia through statistical methods.
- Key risk factors found include increased TV watching, living in deprived areas, infrequent social visits, anxiety, depression, and decreased exercise, all of which highlight the importance of lifestyle and environmental influences on bone health.
This narrative review seeks to enhance our comprehension of how Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID) and Patient Acceptable Symptom State (PASS) values in established Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) for spine surgery correspond with patient preoperative expectations and postoperative satisfaction. Through our literature search, we found that both MCID and PASS serve as dependable indicators of patient expectations. However, MCID may be more susceptible to a floor effect.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To report clinical characteristics and course of care for patients diagnosed with hematogenous spinal osteomyelitis (HVO).
Methods: Medical records of patients presenting to two tertiary care centers with HVO were reviewed.
Results: 96 consecutive patients with HVO were identified.
Background: Vertebrogenic pain is an established source of anterior column chronic low back pain (CLBP) resulting from damaged vertebral endplates with pain signals transmitted by the basivertebral nerve (BVN). Type 1 or Type 2 Modic changes on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are objective biomarkers for vertebrogenic pain. Radiofrequency ablation of the BVN (BVNA) has demonstrated both efficacy and effectiveness for the treatment of vertebrogenic pain in two randomized trials.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF»: Minimal clinically important difference (MCID) and patient-acceptable symptom state (PASS) are both metrics at interpreting patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs).
»: MCID values tend to vary significantly depending on the baseline pain and function in both acute and chronic symptom states while PASS thresholds are more stable.
»: MCID values are more easily attainable than PASS thresholds.
Study Design: Systematic review and Meta-analysis.
Objective: This systematic review seeks to compare fusion, reoperation and complication rates, estimated blood loss (EBL), and surgical time between multi-level instrumented fusions with LIVs (lowest instrumented vertebra) in the cervical spine and those that extend into the thoracic spine.
Summary Of Background Data: Several studies address the question of whether to extend a long-segment, posterior cervical fusions, performed for degenerative disease, into the upper thoracic spine.
Purpose: The focus of SPINE20 is to develop evidence-based policy recommendations for the G20 countries to work with governments to reduce the burden of spine disease, and disability.
Methods: On September 17-18, 2021, SPINE20 held its annual meeting in Rome, Italy. Prior to the meeting, the SPINE20 created six proposed recommendations.
Study Design: Cross-sectional analysis.
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the quality and accuracy of the content surrounding cervical radiculopathy available on the internet.
Summary Of Background Data: Those experiencing cervical radiculopathy and their families are increasingly browsing the worldwide web for medical information.
Purpose: The Global Burden of Diseases (GBD) Studies have estimated that low back pain is one of the costliest ailments worldwide. Subsequent to GBD publications, leadership of the four largest global spine societies agreed to form SPINE20. This article introduces the concept of SPINE20, the recommendations, and the future of this global advocacy group linked to G20 annual summits.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- * A cross-sectional analysis was conducted by examining the top 50 posts related to "scoliosis" on these platforms, focusing on who created the posts, their intent, tone, and the type of media used.
- * Findings showed that most posts were made by non-clinicians and businesses, with educational intent, and many included pictures and external links, often leading to alternative treatment sources.
Background Context: Outcomes of treatment in care of patients with spinal disorders are directly related to patient selection and treatment indications. However, for many disorders, there is absence of consensus for precise indications. With the increasing emphasis on quality and value in spine care, it is essential that treatment recommendations and decisions are optimized.
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- A study was conducted to compare the outcomes of two groups of patients who underwent posterior cervical fusion surgery, specifically looking at those whose fusions ended at the cervical spine vs. those that extended into the thoracic spine.
- Key outcomes measured included patient-reported pain (VAS), disability (ODI), and various radiographic measurements, with a total of 264 patients analyzed over a 2-year follow-up period.
- The results showed no significant difference in revision rates between the two groups, but Group II experienced longer hospital stays and higher blood loss during surgery, indicating a more complex procedure.
Background Context: Preoperative (pre-op) identification of patients likely to achieve a clinically meaningful improvement following surgery for adult spinal deformity (ASD) is critical, especially given the substantial cost and comorbidity associated with surgery. Even though pain is a known indication for surgical ASD correction, we are not aware of established thresholds for baseline pain and function to guide which patients have a higher likelihood of improvement with corrective surgery.
Purpose: We aimed to establish pre-op patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) thresholds to identify patients likely to improve by at least one minimum clinically important difference (MCID) with surgery for ASD.
Background Context: Patients and their families are increasingly turning to the internet for medical information. Most of these patients believe the information to be accurate and reliable. However, the quality and accuracy of that information on the internet is variable and unregulated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Damaged or degenerated vertebral endplates are a significant cause of vertebrogenic chronic low back pain (CLBP). Modic changes are one objective MRI biomarker for these patients. Prior data from the treatment arm of a sham-controlled, RCT showed maintenance of clinical improvements at 2 years following ablation of the basivertebral nerve (BVN).
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