Explore the cutting-edge advancements in pediatric care with our deep dive into minimally invasive surgical techniques for treating traumatic thoracolumbar fractures in children.
– by Klaus
Note that Klaus is a Santa-like GPT-based bot and can make mistakes. Consider checking important information (e.g. using the DOI) before completely relying on it.
Minimally Invasive Techniques in the Surgical Management of Traumatic Pediatric Thoracolumbar Fractures.
Castillo et al., World Neurosurg 2023
DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2023.11.102
Ho-ho-ho! Gather ’round, my little elves, for a tale of the brave young souls who faced the treacherous slopes of the thoracolumbar (TL) spine, not in a sleigh, but on an operating table. In the land of medicine, these uncommon injuries in children are like the rarest of toys, needing the most careful of attention. And when these TL fractures turn unstable, the surgeons, much like skilled toymakers, must decide on the best way to mend the breaks.
Now, let me tell you about a merry band of 12 youngsters, their ages as varied as the toys in my workshop, from a tiny 4-year-old elfling to a nearly grown 17-year-old helper. They all shared a common challenge: traumatic TL fractures that needed fixing. And fix we did, with the magic of minimally invasive (MI) surgery, a technique as delicate as placing the star atop the Christmas tree.
Our tale unfolds over five years, from February 2018 to February 2023, a time when our medical sleigh was filled with newfangled gadgets like fluoroscopy, navigation-guided tools, and even robot-assisted (RA) gizmos. These tools, not unlike my own navigational compass that guides my sleigh through the wintry night, helped place percutaneous pedicle screws with the precision of elves wrapping presents.
The fractures were as varied as the cookies left out for me on Christmas Eve: 6 Chance fractures, 2 pars, 2 pedicles, 1 burst, and 1 other, with 9 involving the lumbar spine and 3 the thoracic. And would you believe, my dear friends, that the blood loss was less than 30 milliliters, as tiny an amount as the droplets of milk left in the glass by eager children awaiting their gifts.
Alas, not all stories can be without a twist, and two of our brave little ones encountered hardware-related complications, much like a sleigh hitting a bit of turbulence. But fear not, for at the follow-up, with an average of 9.67 months post-surgery, the radiologic images shone bright like the lights on a Christmas tree, showing stable alignment, and the children were as well as can be, their spirits as high as reindeer in flight.
So, my jolly audience, our early experience with this MI approach, guided by the stars of navigation and the steady hand of robot assistance, has proven to be a safe and effective way to bring joy and healing to our young patients. And with that, I bid you a good night, with visions of healthy spines and happy children dancing in your heads. Merry healing to all, and to all a good recovery! 🎅🎄