Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33108848›Full record

ArticleAsian spine journal2021

Asymptomatic Construct Failure after Metastatic Spine Tumor Surgery: A New Entity or a Continuum with Symptomatic Failure?

Naresh Kumar, Ravish Patel, Barry Wei Loong Tan, Jiong Hao Tan, Naveen Pandita, Dhiraj Sonawane, Keith Gerard Lopez, Khin Lay Wai, Hwee Weng Dennis Hey, Aravind Kumar and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Asian spine journal, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Design and 3D printing of novel titanium spine rods with lower flexural modulus and stiffness profile with optimised imaging compatibility.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2023
    Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Naresh KumarDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, National University Health System, Singapore.
Ravish PatelDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, National University Health System, Singapore.
Barry Wei Loong TanDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, National University Health System, Singapore.
Jiong Hao TanDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, National University Health System, Singapore.
Naveen PanditaDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, National University Health System, Singapore.
Dhiraj SonawaneDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, National University Health System, Singapore.
Keith Gerard LopezDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, National University Health System, Singapore.
Khin Lay WaiDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, National University Health System, Singapore.
Hwee Weng Dennis HeyDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, National University Health System, Singapore.
Aravind KumarDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, National University Health System, Singapore.
Gabriel LiuDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, National University Health System, Singapore.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

STUDY

designRetrospective cohort study. PURPOSE: To study the incidence, onset, underlying mechanism, clinical course, and factors leading to asymptomatic construct failure (AsCF) after metastatic spinal tumor surgery (MSTS). OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: The reported incidence rates for implant and/or construct failure after MSTS are low (1.9%-16%) and based on clinical presentations and revisions required for symptomatic failures (SFs). AsCF after MSTS has not been reported.

methodsWe conducted a retrospective analysis of 288 patients (246 for final analysis) who underwent MSTS between 2005-2015. Data collected were demographics and peri/postoperative clinical and radiological features. Early and late radiological AsCF were defined as presentation before and after 3 months, respectively. We analyzed patients with AsCF for risk factors and survival duration by performing competing risk regression analyses where AsCF was the event of interest, with SF and death as competing events.

resultsWe observed AsCF in 41/246 patients (16.7%). The mean time to onset of AsCF after MSTS was 2 months (range, 1-9 months). Median survival of patients with AsCF was 20 and 41 months for early and late failures, respectively. Early AsCF accounted for 80.5% of cases, while late AsCF accounted for 19.5%. The commonest radiologically detectable AsCF mechanism was angular deformity (increase in kyphus) in 29 patients. Increasing age (p<0.02) and primary breast (13/41, 31.7%) (p<0.01) tumors were associated with higher AsCF rates. There was a non-significant trend towards AsCF in patients with a spinal instability neoplastic score ≥7, instrumentation across junctional regions, and construct lengths of 6-9 levels. None of the patients with AsCF underwent revision surgery.

conclusionsAsCF after MSTS is a distinct entity. Most patients with early AsCF did not require intervention. Patients who survived and maintained ambulation for longer periods had late failure. Increasing age and tumors with a better prognosis have a higher likelihood of developing AsCF. AsCF is not necessarily an indication for aggressive/urgent intervention.

Indexed as

Artificial implantsImplant failureNeoplasm metastasisSpineSurgery

Identifiers

PMID33108848
PMCPMC8561154

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.