Gender differences in spine surgery for degenerative lumbar disease: prospective cohort study.

Objective: Despite efforts toward achieving gender-based equality in clinical trial enrollment, females are frequently underrepresented and gender-specific data analysis is lacking. Identifying and addressing gender bias in medical decision-making and outcome reporting may facilitate more equitable healthcare delivery. This study aimed to determine if gender differences exist in the clinical evaluation and surgical management of patients with degenerative lumbar conditions.

The Influence of Wait Time on Surgical Outcomes in Elective Lumbar Degenerative Spine Conditions: A Retrospective Multicentre Cohort Study.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: The impact of delayed access to operative treatment on patient reported outcomes (PROs) for lumbar degenerative conditions remains unclear. The goal of this study is to evaluate the association between wait times for elective lumbar spine surgery and post-operative PROs.

Determining minimal clinically important difference estimates following surgery for degenerative conditions of the lumbar spine: analysis of the Canadian Spine Outcomes and Research Network (CSORN) registry.

Background Context: There is significant variability in minimal clinically important difference (MCID) criteria for lumbar spine surgery that suggests population and primary pathology specific thresholds may be required to help determine surgical success when using patient reported outcome measures (PROMs).

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to estimate MCID thresholds for 3 commonly used PROMs after surgical intervention for each of 4 common lumbar spine pathologies.

Study Design/setting: Observational longitudinal study of patients from the Canadian Spine Outcomes and Research Network (CSORN) national registry.

Cost consequence analysis of waiting for lumbar disc herniation surgery.

The economic repercussions of waiting for lumbar disc surgery have not been well studied. The primary goal of this study was to perform a cost-consequence analysis of patients receiving early vs late surgery for symptomatic disc herniation from a societal perspective. Secondarily, we compared patient factors and patient-reported outcomes.

Patient, clinical, surgical, and institutional factors associated with length of stay in scheduled degenerative thoracolumbar spine surgery: National Multicenter Cohort Analysis from the Canadian Spine Outcomes and Research Network.

Objective: Length of stay (LOS) is a contributor to costs and resource utilization. The primary goal of this study was to identify patient, clinical, surgical, and institutional variables that influence LOS after elective surgery for thoracolumbar degenerative pathology. The secondary objective was to examine variability in LOS and institutional strategies used to decrease LOS.

Practice Variation between Salaried and Fee-for-Service Surgeons for Lumbar Surgery.

Objective: To examine differences in surgical practices between salaried and fee-for-service (FFS) surgeons for two common degenerative spine conditions. Surgeons may offer different treatments for similar conditions on the basis of their compensation mechanism.

Methods: The study assessed the practices of 63 spine surgeons across eight Canadian provinces (39 FFS surgeons and 24 salaried) who performed surgery for two lumbar conditions: stable spinal stenosis and degenerative spondylolisthesis.

Outcome of spine surgery in patients with depressed mental states: a Canadian spine outcome research network study.

Background Context: Depression is higher among spine patients than among the general population. Some small studies, but not others, have suggested that depression may be a predictor of worse outcome after surgery.

Purpose: Determination whether there is an association between depression and worse response to surgery among spine patients.

Time to return to work after elective lumbar spine surgery.

Objective: Time to return to work (RTW) after elective lumbar spine surgery is variable and dependent on many factors including patient, work-related, and surgical factors. The primary objective of this study was to describe the time and rate of RTW after elective lumbar spine surgery. Secondary objectives were to determine predictors of early RTW (< 90 days) and no RTW in this population.

Topical tranexamic acid in hip fractures: a randomized, placebo-controlled double-blinded study.

Background: Tranexamic acid (TXA) has been shown to reduce perioperative blood loss in elective orthopedic surgery. The safety of intravenous TXA in nonelective hip fracture surgery is uncertain. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of topical TXA in hip fracture surgery.

Minimally Invasive Tubular Lumbar Discectomy Versus Conventional Open Lumbar Discectomy: An Observational Study From the Canadian Spine Outcomes and Research Network.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objective: We evaluated the effectiveness of minimally invasive (MIS) tubular discectomy in comparison to conventional open surgery among patients enrolled in the Canadian Spine Outcomes and Research Network (CSORN).

Methods: We performed an observational analysis of data that was prospectively collected.

Adverse events in surgically treated cervical spondylopathic myelopathy: a prospective validated observational study.

Study Design: Prospective observational study.

Objective: Using validated tools to accurately identify and quantify incidence of and risks for inpatient adverse events (AEs) associated with surgical management of cervical spondylopathic myelopathy (CSM) with the goal of assisting physicians and patients in decision making. To identify patient-/disease-/technique-specific, independent risk factors for developing AEs perioperatively and affecting length of stay for patients treated surgically for CSM.

Characterization of the behavior of a novel low-stiffness posterior spinal implant under anterior shear loading on a degenerative spinal model.

Purpose: Dynamic implants have been developed to address potential adjacent level effects due to rigid instrumentation. Rates of revision surgeries may be reduced by using improved implants in the primary surgery. Prior to clinical use, implants should be rigorously tested ex vivo.

The effect of disc degeneration on anterior shear translation in the lumbar spine.

Many pathologies involving disc degeneration are treated with surgery and spinal implants. It is important to understand how the spine behaves mechanically as a function of disc degeneration. Shear loading is especially relevant in the natural and surgically stabilized lumbar spine.

Adverse events in emergency oncological spine surgery: a prospective analysis.

Object: Most descriptions of spine surgery morbidity and mortality in the literature are retrospective. Emerging prospective analyses of adverse events (AEs) demonstrate significantly higher rates, suggesting underreporting in retrospective and prospective studies that do not include AEs as a targeted outcome. Emergency oncological spine surgeries are generally palliative to reduce pain and improve patients' neurology and health-related quality of life.

Prospective analysis of adverse events in surgical treatment of degenerative spondylolisthesis.

Background Context: Surgical adverse event (AE) monitoring is imprecise, of uncertain validity, and tends toward underreporting. Reports focus on specific procedures rather than outcomes in the context of presenting diagnosis. Specific intraoperative (intraop) or postoperative (postop) AEs that may be independently associated with degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS) have never been reported.