Abstract
Background. Symptomatic postoperative spinal epidural hematoma (PSEH) is a devastating complication that could develop after lumbar decompression surgery. PSEH can also develop after biportal endoscopic spine surgery (BESS), one of the recently introduced minimally invasive spine surgery techniques. Gelatin-thrombin matrix sealant (GTMS) is commonly used to prevent PSEH. This study aimed at analyzing the clinical and radiological effects of GTMS use during BESS. Methods. A total of 206 patients with spinal stenosis who underwent decompression by BESS through a posterior interlaminar approach from October 2015 to September 2018 were enrolled in this study. Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in all patients for evaluation of PSEH. Patients in whom GTMS was not used during surgery were assigned to Group A, and those in whom GTMS was used were classified as Group B. In the clinical evaluation, the visual analog scale (VAS) of the leg and back, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and modified MacNab criteria were used. The incidence rate and degree of dural compression of PSEH on postoperative MRI were measured. Results. The average age of the patients was (42–89) years. The overall incidence rate of PSEH was 20.9% (43/206). The incidence rates in Groups A and B were 26.4% and 13.6%, respectively, showing a significant difference (). The VAS-leg and ODI improvement was significantly different depending on the intraoperative use of GTMS. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of the VAS-back improvement. Groups A and B showed “good” and “excellent” rates according to the modified MacNab criteria in 79.4% and 87.6% of patients, respectively, showing statistically significant difference (). In Group A, two patients underwent revision surgery due to PSEH, while none in Group B had such event. Conclusion. Intraoperative use of GTMS during BESS may be related to reduction in the occurrence rate of PSEH. Specifically, patients with GTMS appliance showed marked decrease in the occurrence of PSEH and had better clinical outcomes.
1. Introduction
Postoperative spinal epidural hematoma (PSEH) is one of the most common early complications of spine surgery that can cause neurological symptoms [1, 2]. The incidence of PSEH is not extremely high; however, it can cause severe neurological deficits and can lead to cases that may require prompt treatment [3]. The epidural venous plexus is thinner in patients with chronic lumbar spinal stenosis than in normal patients; therefore, patients with spinal stenosis have increased risk of bleeding due to rupture of the venous plexus during decompression [4]. Inadequate hemostasis can cause severe PSEH, which may result in complications, such as cauda equina syndrome, leading to a more unsatisfactory clinical outcome.
Fibrosis that forms around the dura is considered one of the critical factors of failed back syndrome and arises from the overproduction of postoperative scar tissue [5]. Excessive epidural fibrosis can develop after laminectomy due to insufficient hemostasis; thus, meticulous hemostasis is an essential step. A gelatin-thrombin matrix sealant (GTMS) is a well-known biocompatible hemostatic matrix composed of bovine gelatin matrix and human-derived thrombin used during spine surgery [6]. Such GTMSs are known to promote fibrin formation and coagulation [7]. This agent acts on two areas in the coagulation cascade: contact activation and thrombin activation.
Recently, the use of an endoscope has gained interest in the field of minimally invasive surgery. For the treatment of spinal stenosis, biportal endoscopic spine surgery (BESS) was introduced as an alternative method for microscopic unilateral laminotomy for bilateral decompression (ULBD) [8–13]. The basic concept of the BESS is similar to those of arthroscopic and laparoscopic surgeries, in which an endoscope is inserted through a viewing portal, and surgical instruments are inserted into a separate working portal. The advantage of BESS is that the early postoperative clinical outcome is more favorable than that in conventional open surgery due to less paraspinal muscle dissection and retraction [8]. Although BESS is performed with minimal manipulation of the soft tissues, it is reported that radiological PSEH develops at a rate of 24.7%. Since patients with PSEH show poorer postoperative clinical outcomes, prevention of PSEH is essential [14, 15]. Compared to discectomy, in procedures that require more manipulation of the bone and soft tissue, such as in bilateral decompression and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion, the incidence of PSEH is reported to be higher [14]. Based on previous studies on adequate hemostasis using GTMS [7], this study aimed at evaluating the effect of GTMS use during BESS on the incidence of PSEH.
2. Materials and Methods
The study was conducted after obtaining approval from the Institutional Review Board. All patients who underwent BESS provided informed consent to undergo the surgery. Electronic medical records and preoperative and postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings were retrospectively obtained and analyzed by board-certified orthopedic surgeons. Among the patients who underwent BESS, 206 consecutive patients who underwent single-level ULBD with BESS technique through the posterior interlaminar approach from October 2015 to September 2018 were enrolled. The inclusion criteria for surgery were as follows: (1) central or lateral recess stenosis without foraminal stenosis; (2) preoperative symptoms of lower extremity radiating pain or neurogenic claudication; and (3) refractory to conservative treatment including use of medications, such as analgesics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and gabapentinoids, or epidural injections for at least 3 months. The exclusion criteria were as follows: (1) lumbar foraminal stenosis treated with foraminal decompression; (2) spondylolytic spondylolisthesis or instability of >5° of angulation or >3 mm of translation on dynamic radiography; (3) infection or fracture; (4) complications other than PSEH, such as dural tear; and (5) <1 year of follow-up.
During the initial period of performing BESS, we did not routinely use Floseal® (Baxter International, Inc., Deerfield, IL, USA), since adequate hemostasis was achieved intraoperatively. However, since postoperative MRI of these patients showed minor epidural hematoma, in some cases with neurologic symptoms, we considered using GTMS to reduce the incidence of epidural hematoma since May 2017. Patients in whom GTMS was not used during surgery were assigned to Group A, and those in whom GTMS was used were classified as Group B. In Group B, 5 mL of GTMS was injected above the dura through the working portal after stopping the water infusion by locking the valve on the endoscope. Three minutes after injection, by saline infusion, the complex of GTMS and blood clots were drained through a semitubular retractor placed in the working portal (Figure 1) (Vid. 1). The granular material that was not incorporated in the blood clot was carefully removed by irrigation and probing, reducing the compression of the dural sac by the GTMS. The drain was removed 1 or 2 days after surgery when the daily amount was <50 mL. Postoperative MRI was routinely performed on the day of drain removal using 1.5 T MRI unit (Avanto®, Siemens, Munich, Germany). The MRI had a slice thickness of 4 mm in both the sagittal and axial images, and T1-weighted sagittal and axial images and T2-weighted sagittal and fat-suppressed axial images were obtained. T2 axial images on postoperative MRI were used to measure the dimension of the maximal dural compression due to hematoma, performed by an experienced radiologist. While no follow-up MRI was routinely performed besides that on the day of drain removal, additional follow-up MRI was performed in patients who underwent revision surgery for symptomatic PSEH after revision surgery. PSEH was defined as hematoma compressing the dural sac in MRI T2-weighted axial images and was classified as Grade 0 (no hematoma), Grade I (<25% compression of the spinal canal), Grade II (25–50% compression of the spinal canal), Grade III (50–75% compression of the spinal canal), and Grade IV (>75% compression of the spinal canal) [15](Figure 2). Utilizing postoperative MRI, the occurrence rate and grade of PSEH in Groups A and B were comparatively analyzed by the senior author blinded to the use of GTMS. Moreover, the visual analog scale (VAS) of the leg and back, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and modified MacNab criteria were used to measure the clinical outcome preoperatively, 3 months postoperatively, and at the final follow-up of at least 1 year postoperatively. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 22 (IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, USA). Values are presented as . The differences in radiological and clinical outcomes between Groups A and B were analyzed using a paired -test and repeated-measures analysis of variance.
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3. Results
A total of 206 patients were enrolled in the study, of which 107 (51.9%) were female and 99 (48.1%) were male. The average age was (49–89) years. The index level of surgery was L2–3 in 5 patients (2.4%), L3–4 in 28 patients (13.6%), L4–5 in 123 patients (78.6%), and L5–S1 in 11 patients (5.3%). Overall, PSEH was present in 43 patients (20.9%). Of the 43 patients, 19 (9.2%) had Grade I, 19 (9.2%) had Grade II, and 5 (2.4%) had Grade III (Table 1). Two patients with Grade III PSEH had postoperative neurologic symptoms, including radiating pain on both lower extremities that were intractable to conservative treatment and thus underwent revision surgery of PSEH evacuation. The two patients who underwent revision surgery both showed Grade III PSEH. Hematoma evacuation revision surgery was performed through the previous portal used in the BESS technique (Figure 3). Although revision surgeries were performed in patients with PSEH in Groups A (2 cases) and B (0 case), the rate was not significantly different (). During the operation, GTMS was not used in 117 (56.8%) patients (Group A) but was used in 89 (43.2%) patients (Group B). PSEH was noted in 31 patients (26.5%) in Group A and 12 patients (13.5%) in Group B, showing a significant difference between the groups (). Furthermore, regarding the grading of PSEH, Group A consisted of 86 patients (73.5%) with Grade 0, 10 patients (8.5%) with Grade I, 16 patients (13.7%) with Grade II, and 3 patients (4.3%) with Grade III, while Group B consisted of 77 patients (86.5%) with Grade 0, 9 patients (10.1%) with Grade I, 3 patients (3.4%) with Grade II, and 5 patients (2.4%) with Grade III (Table 2). The VAS-leg score in Group A improved from preoperatively to at 3 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up. The VAS-leg score in Group B improved from preoperatively to at 3 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up. The VAS-leg improvement was significantly different depending on the presence of PSEH. Moreover, the VAS-leg improvement was significantly different depending on the intraoperative use of GTMS at both 3 months postoperatively () and the final follow-up (). The VAS-back score in Group A improved from preoperatively to at 3 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up. The VAS-back score in Group B improved from preoperatively to at 3 months postoperatively () and at the final follow-up. Although VAS-back improvement was more significant in Group B at 3 months postoperatively, no significant difference was found at the final follow-up () (Figure 4).
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The ODI score in Group A improved from preoperatively to at 3 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up. The ODI score in Group B improved from preoperatively to at 3 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up. The difference in ODI score between the two groups was statistically significant at both 3 months postoperatively () and the final follow-up (). According to the modified MacNab criteria, 88 patients (76.1%) responded “excellent” or “good” in Group A, while 78 patients (87.6%) responded “excellent” or “good” in Group B. Group B showed a significantly higher rate of “excellent” or “good” according to modified MacNab criteria () (Figure 3).
4. Discussion
PSEH is one of the most critical factors that can cause compression of the spinal canal after lumbar decompression surgery. The incidence of PSEH after lumbar spine surgery detected by MRI and CT is relatively high [16]. However, a significant discrepancy exists between radiological incidence and symptoms of PSEH [15]. PSEH with neural encroachment of at least 50% based on postoperative MRI caused neural injury secondary to decompression and ischemia [14, 15]. Therefore, bleeding control is one of the factors affecting successful clinical outcomes after spine surgery. Owing to recent developments in the techniques of minimally invasive spine surgery and advancements in endoscope-related optical technology, BESS was introduced, and numerous results have been reported [8–13]. Because it has surgical indications similar to those in conventional open surgery, BESS is gaining interest recently as a minimally invasive spine surgery technique with favorable outcomes similar to those of microscopic decompression in spinal stenosis [8]. However, even in BESS, postoperative complications, such as dural tear and PSEH, are being reported [9]. Although symptomatic PSEH is rare, cases of Grade III or higher were reported to cause motor weakness, severe radiating pain, and cauda equina syndrome.14,15 Several studies revealed that, to prevent neurological sequelae, removal of symptomatic PSEH is necessary [3]. Although the majority of PSEH resolves in a length of time postoperatively, in some cases, low signal intensity bands are found around the dural sac on MRI. Although decompression was sufficient, as the PSEH is reabsorbed, it can form fibrosis in the epidural space and inhibit dural sac expansion. Epidural fibrosis due to PSEH interferes with permanent dura expansion, which leads to nerve root irritation and worsens neurological symptoms [15]. For these reasons, previous studies reported that the clinical outcome of patients with PSEH was inferior to that of patients without PSEH (Figure 5). Therefore, it is assumed that meticulous hemostasis is directly related to positive clinical outcomes.
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Several studies have been conducted to prevent PSEH from developing in open surgery, but no accurate consensus has been reached regarding risk factors and incidence [3]. Similarly, while studies have been conducted on the risk factors of PSEH in BESS [14], a practical prevention method has not been introduced. GTMS is also used when electric coagulation does not achieve adequate hemostasis. Passive hemostatic agents, such as collagen and gelatin, induce contact activation and platelet aggregation to stop bleeding, while active hemostatic agents, such as fibrin sealant, act biologically on clotting mechanisms [7, 17]. To achieve adequate hemostasis, forming a stable clot consisting of two independent hemostatic agents, bovine-derived gelatin granule and human thrombin, is useful [17].
In this study, the incidence of PSEH and clinical outcomes were investigated by comparing the group in which GTMS was used and the group in which GTMS was not used during single-level decompression in spinal stenosis. In the group in which GTMS was used, the incidence of PSEH was decreased by half compared to the group in which GTMS was not used, and there was no revision surgery due to PSEH. Additionally, while the overall rate of PSEH was >20%, high-grade PSEH (Grade III or IV) was noted in 5 patients in Group A and 0 case in Group B. The two patients in Group A with high-grade PSEH underwent revision surgery. This result supports the use of GTMS in preventing high-grade PSEH. Although the follow-up period was short, significant differences in the clinical outcomes were observed. If PSEH is present, it causes not only dural compression but also histopathological changes, such as inflammation, adhesion, and fibrosis, which can lead to nerve traction and arterial supply impairment, resulting in radiculopathy [18]. Epidural fibrosis can cause back or lower extremity pain up to 6 months postoperatively [19].
Other study results regarding epidural fibrosis after the use of hemostatic agents vary. One study reported that a granule-type GTMS can cause histopathological changes, such as inflammation, when left near the dura [20]. In contrast, an experiment on rat models showed that epidermal fibrosis did not significantly differ between the groups in which polysaccharides were used and not used during laminectomy, concluding that an absorbable polysaccharide hemostatic agent did not promote epidural fibrosis formation [21]. In another animal experiment, the histopathological examination showed less epidural fibrosis in the group in which GTMS was not used [22].
In our case series, at the end of the surgery, integrated hematoma and granule were removed using continuous saline irrigation 3 min after administration of GTMS on the spinal canal. As previously mentioned, a postoperative residual granule from GTMS is recognized as a foreign body that may cause inflammation and granuloma to form, resulting in radicular pain.20 Thus, a recent study recommends flowable hemostatic agents, such as gelatin granule and thrombin, rather than granule-type agents [20]. The strength of our study is that, for the first time, the effect of GTMS use in preventing PSEH during BESS was evaluated and found to decrease the incidence by half. It was also noted that the presence of PSEH was negatively related to clinical outcomes. Proper use of flowable hemostatic agents, such as GTMS, can effectively stop bleeding without adverse effects, in not only open spine surgery but also endoscopic spine surgery. However, there are limitations in this study. First, a sampling bias was considered because cases performed in the early period of BESS were included in Group A, which might have poorer outcomes compared to the latter cases, Group B, based on the learning curve. Nonetheless, all cases in this study can be considered adequately performed since they were performed by a single surgeon with experience of at least 60 cases [23]. Second, performance comparison of different hemostatic products was not possible because only a single product GTMS was used in this study.
5. Conclusions
Intraoperative use of GTMS during BESS may be related to a reduction in the occurrence rate of PSEH. Specifically, patients with GTMS appliance showed marked decrease in the occurrence of PSEH based on postoperative MRI and had better clinical outcomes, such as VAS-leg and ODI scores and modified MacNab criteria.
Data Availability
All equipment and materials used in this work are described, and all relevant results obtained were presented and discussed (tables). Other details can be requested.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.