Publications by authors named "Sheeraz Qureshi"
Background: Prior studies have linked sarcopenia and fat infiltration in paraspinal muscles with lumbar pain, spinal pathology, and adverse postoperative outcomes in lumbar spine surgery. A recent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based method for assessing muscle health, incorporating parameters such as Goutallier Classification (GC) and the Paralumbar Muscle Cross-Sectional Area to Body Mass Index ratio (PL-CSA/BMI), has shown that higher muscle grades correlate with significant improvements in patient-reported outcomes. Despite these advancements, there is limited research on the associations between paralumbar muscle health and factors such as age, BMI, walking tolerability, and spondylolisthesis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: This study investigates the relationship between surgical levels and coronal deformity to identify risk factors for failing to achieve a minimal clinically important difference (MCID) in the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) following short-segment isolated decompression or fusion surgery in patients with degenerative scoliosis (DS) and concurrent lumbar canal stenosis (LCS), without severe sagittal deformity malalignment.
Methods: Patients with degenerative scoliosis who underwent 1- or 2-level lumbar isolated decompression or fusion surgery were included. Surgical level was labeled as "Cobb-related" when decompression or surgical levels spanned or were between end vertebrae, and "outside" when the operative levels did not include the end vertebrae.
Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.
Summary Of Background Data: The optimal surgical approach for multilevel cervical stenosis in elderly patients is controversial because of the risk of life-threatening complication.
Objective: To compare life-threatening early complication rates between ≥3 levels anterior and posterior cervical surgery in elderly patients.
Background Context: Endoscopic spine decompression surgery (ESDS) offers numerous benefits, including reduced tissue damage, smaller incisions, shorter recovery times, and a lower risk of complications. However, its adoption among spine surgeons in the United States has been slow. The reluctance to adopt ESDS can be attributed to factors such as the learning curve, cost of equipment and training, and limited access to necessary resources.
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- The study was a retrospective cohort review comparing single level (SLD) and dual level (DLD) minimally invasive decompression surgeries for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) in patients with adjacent level disease.
- Findings indicated that patients undergoing single level decompression experienced similar clinical outcomes to those with dual level decompression over a 2-year period, despite longer operative times for DLD procedures.
- The conclusion suggests that for patients with single level symptoms and adjacent stenosis, treating only the symptomatic level is equally effective, potentially reducing unnecessary risks and surgery time associated with dual level procedures.
Article Synopsis
- - The study aimed to analyze how the density of bone foam affects the amount of subsidence caused by expandable interbody cages during spinal procedures.
- - Results indicated that higher bone foam densities led to reduced subsidence depths; for example, at a force of 150 N, the mean subsidence was 2.0 mm for 5 PCF and only 1.1 mm for both 15 and 20 PCF.
- - The findings suggest that surgeons should consider bone quality when using expandable interbody cages, as the relationship between bone density and subsidence can influence the effectiveness of the procedure.
Background: Although a few recent studies showed good outcomes in back pain-predominant patients following decompression alone, none of the studies had a comparative fusion group.
Purpose: We sought to compare outcomes of minimally invasive decompression alone versus fusion in patients with predominant back pain.
Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients who underwent minimally invasive decompression alone or fusion and had preoperative back pain > leg pain.
Background: Pedicle screw placement during spine fusion is physically and mentally demanding for surgeons. Consequently, spine surgeons can become fatigued, which has implications for both patient safety and surgeon well-being.
Purpose: We sought to assess the cognitive workload of surgeons placing pedicle screws using robotic-assisted navigation compared with fluoroscopic and computed tomography (CT)-assisted placement.
Study Design: Systematic review.
Objective: Describe the impact of disc height on outcomes following cervical disc replacement (CDR).
Summary Of Background Data: Implant sizing and positioning may impact outcomes following CDR.
Background Context: Lumbar decompression and short-segment lumbar fusion are standard procedures for short-segment lumbar canal stenosis, even in patients with moderate Cobb angles. Adult degenerative scoliosis is diagnosed at a threshold of 10 degrees, and patients with coronal Cobb angles over 30 degrees are recommended for long fusion due to global spinal deformity. However, there is a lack of research on clinical outcomes in patients with moderate coronal deformity, such as Cobb angles between 20 and 30 degrees.
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- A study was conducted to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) performed with patients in a prone position, comparing it to the traditional lateral position.
- The study included 20 patients who underwent LLIF while prone, with findings showing no intraoperative complications, but some patients experienced transient weakness and other postoperative issues.
- Overall, patient-reported outcomes improved significantly after the procedure, and while there were some complications in the prone group, they were not statistically different from those in the lateral group.
Study Design: This retrospective study included patients who underwent primary one-level minimally invasive (MIS) transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) for degenerative lumbar spine conditions.
Objective: To identify early predictors of failing to achieve the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) minimum clinically important difference (MCID) one-year post-surgery.
Summary Of Background Data: Early identification of patients at risk of failing to achieve ODI-MCID is crucial for early intervention and improved postoperative counseling.
Return to play (RTP) after sports-related traumatic injuries to the cervical spine is important for athletes and teams, especially at the elite level. While early RTP may be incentivized for athletes and organizations, treating clinicians must have a thorough understanding of cervical spine injuries, treatments, and RTP guidelines to make safe recommendations. In general, patients can RTP when asymptomatic from prior injury with no neurological deficits and a full, painless, active range of motion of the neck.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Interspinous process devices (IPDs) introduce a new class of complications to surgical decompression without fusion: hardware-related complications. The purpose of this study was to describe the adverse events associated with IPDs.
Study Design: This was a retrospective review of the Food and Drug Administration Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience database.
Article Synopsis
- This study explores the relationship between psoas muscle size (measured by cross-sectional area) and bone health in patients undergoing spine fusion surgery, highlighting the connection between muscle and bone health in surgical outcomes.
- The research involved measuring psoas muscle area using CT scans and assessing bone density and microarchitecture with advanced imaging techniques in a cohort of 88 patients, revealing that larger psoas size correlates with better bone metrics.
- Findings showed that while psoas size is linked to higher bone mineral density and better microarchitecture at certain sites, this relationship varied by sex and did not hold for lumbar spine bone density, indicating complex interactions between muscle and bone health.
Robot-assisted spine surgery has gained notable popularity among surgeons because of recent advancements in technology. These innovations provide several key benefits, including high screw accuracy rates, reduced radiation exposure, customized preoperative and intraoperative planning options, and improved ergonomics for surgeons. Despite the promising outcomes reported in literature, potential technical challenges remain across various robotic platforms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGrit, defined as perseverance and passion for long-term goals, and self-control, defined as the capacity to regulate impulses in the presence of momentarily gratifying temptations or diversion, have shown to be predictors of professional achievement. Their role in health care outcomes is less well understood. : We sought to determine whether grit and self-control are associated with patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) following spine surgery.
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- * Researchers analyzed 52 adults who underwent MIS laminectomy, grouping them into balanced or unbalanced PI-LL categories, and assessed changes in PROMs, specifically the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI).
- * Findings indicate no significant differences in long-term clinical outcomes between patients with balanced and unbalanced PI-LL, suggesting that preoperative sagittal imbalance may not impact MIS surgery results, pointing to the need for further research with larger samples.
Background: Tubular spine surgery has emerged as a hallmark of minimally invasive spine (MIS) procedures. In recent years, thanks to technological advances, tubular dilators and retractors have been integrated with digital cameras to allow for ergonomic, high-definition visualization of the surgical field.
Objective: To detail the evolution, ergonomics, economics, and outcomes of camera-based tubular spine surgery, spanning the origins of MIS tubular techniques to the current use of operative microscopes and tube-mounted digital cameras (TMDCs).
Objective: Prior studies investigating the use of minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MI-TLIF) for treatment of degenerative lumbar conditions and concomitant sagittal deformity have not stratified patients by preoperative pelvic incidence (PI)-lumbar lordosis (LL) mismatch, which is the earliest parameter to deteriorate in mild sagittal deformity. Thus, the aim of the present study was to determine the impact of preoperative PI-LL mismatch on clinical outcomes and sagittal balance restoration among patients undergoing MI-TLIF for degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS).
Methods: Consecutive adult patients undergoing primary 1-level MI-TLIF between April 2017 and April 2022 for DS with ≥ 6 months radiographic follow-up were included.
Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.
Objective: Describe the impact of endplate coverage on HO in cervical disc replacement (CDR).
Summary Of Background Data: CDR is a motion-sparing alternative to anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.
Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between patient-perceived changes in health and commonly utilized patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in lumbar spine surgery.
Methods: This was a retrospective review of prospectively collected data on consecutive patients who underwent lumbar microdiscectomy, lumbar decompression, or lumbar fusion at a single academic institution from 2017 to 2023. Correlation between the global rating of change (GRC) questionnaire, a 5-item Likert scale (much better, slightly better, about the same, slightly worse, and much worse), and PROMs (Oswestry Disability Index, visual analog scale for back and leg pain, 12-Item Short Form Health Survey Physical Component Summary and Mental Component Summary, and PROMIS physical function) was assessed using Spearman's rank correlation coefficients.
Article Synopsis
- - The study investigates the carbon footprint (CF) associated with adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery, aiming to fill the gap in research about its environmental impact.
- - Researchers analyzed data from 15 matched pairs of patients who underwent either traditional open surgery or minimally invasive surgery, collecting data on disposables, reusable instruments, anesthetic gases, and energy used.
- - The findings reveal an average CF of 147.7 kg-COe per surgery, primarily due to energy used for sterilization (54%) and anesthetic gas emissions (17%), suggesting a need for a multidisciplinary approach to reduce carbon emissions in surgical practices.
Article Synopsis
- The study reviews data from a national database to determine factors that impact whether patients are discharged to their homes after cervical disc replacement (CDR) surgery.
- The analysis involved 7,276 patients from 2011 to 2020 and identified several predictors for nonhome discharge, including older age, Hispanic ethnicity, higher BMI, and longer hospital stays.
- Outpatient surgery settings were found to lower the likelihood of nonhome discharge, providing insights for preoperative planning and improving patient discharge efficiency.