Compensatory Pelvic Retro-Rotation Associated with a Decreased Quality of Life in Patients with Normal Sagittal Balance.

Study Design: Cross-sectional observational study.

Purpose: To examine whether pelvic rotation as a compensatory mechanism for sagittal imbalance is related to quality of life (QOL).

Overview Of Literature: Poor sagittal alignment is associated with compensatory pelvic retroversion and decreased QOL.

Sagittal Alignment of a Strut Graft Affects Graft Subsidence and Clinical Outcomes of Anterior Cervical Corpectomy and Fusion.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of sagittal alignment of the strut graft on graft subsidence and clinical outcomes after anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF).

Overview Of Literature: ACCF is a common technique for the treatment of various cervical pathologies.

Clinical Outcomes of Surgical Treatments for Traumatic Spinal Injuries due to Snowboarding.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Purpose: To assess treatment outcomes of snowboarding-related spinal and spinal cord injuries.

Overview Of Literature: Snowboarding-related spinal or spinal cord injury have a great impact on social and sporting activities.

Cervical symmetric dumbbell ganglioneuromas causing severe paresis.

We report an extremely rare case with bilateral and symmetric dumbbell ganglioneuromas of the cervical spine in an elderly patient. A 72-year-old man came by ambulance to our hospital due to progressive incomplete paraplegia. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated bilateral symmetric dumbbell tumors at the C1/2 level.

Trachea-thoracic vertebral body fistula causing spinal cord injury: a case report.

Study Design: A case report and review of the literature.

Objective: To discuss the significance of identifying trachea-thoracic vertebral body fistula.

Summary Of Background Data: Several authors have reported the occurrence of communication between the trachea and the spinal canal or paraspinal abscess.

Alterations in axial curvature of the cervical spine with a combination of rotation and extension in the conventional anterior cervical approach.

Purpose: Alterations of three-dimensional cervical curvature in conventional anterior cervical approach position are not well understood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate alignment changes of the cervical spine in the position. In addition, simulated corpectomy was evaluated with regard to sufficiency of decompression and perforation of the vertebral artery canal.

In vivo measurement of lumbar foramen during axial loading using a compression device and computed tomography.

Study Design: In vivo measurement of lumbar foramen using computed tomography and an axial loading device in healthy young subjects.

Objective: To investigate the effects of axial loading on the morphology of the lumbar foramen in vivo.

Summary Of Background Data: In vitro studies have shown morphologic changes in the lumbar foramen in response to axial loading.

Morphologic Changes in Contralateral Lumbar Foramen in Unilateral Cantilever Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion Using Kidney-type Intervertebral Spacers.

Study Design: A retrospective study of 58 patients undergoing cantilever transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (c-TLIF).

Objectives: To evaluate morphologic changes in the intervertebral foramen (IVF) on the side contralateral to spacer insertion in patients undergoing c-TLIF using plain x-ray films and computed tomography scan.

Summary Of Background Data: The morphologic changes in the contralateral lumbar foramen in c-TLIF using unilateral insertion of spacers have not been well studied.

Successful antibiotic treatment for subdural empyema and seizure due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus as a complication of halo orthosis usage: a case report.

Halo orthosis is used for cervical spine fixation after spinal surgery or injury. Although superficial infection at pin sites occurs frequently, intracranial development of infection, including brain abscesses, is very rare. We experienced subdural empyema due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) caused by intracranial penetration of halo pins.

Repair of pars defects by segmental transverse wiring for athletes with symptomatic spondylolysis: relationship between bony union and postoperative symptoms.

Study Design: Retrospective study of surgery for spondylolysis patients.

Objective: To assess clinical outcome of bony union using multislice computed tomography after segmental wiring fixation.

Summary Of Background Data: How bony union affects surgical outcome of spondylolysis repair is unclear.

Test-retest repeatability of lumbar sagittal alignment and disc height measurements with or without axial loading: a computed tomography study.

Study Design: In vivo study using young healthy volunteers, CT scan, and an axial compression device.

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the test-retest repeatability of the measurements of sagittal alignment and disc height of the lumbar spine with and without an axial compression device in the supine position.

Summary Of Background Data: Dynamic radiologic examinations have been used to investigate the relationships between disc degeneration and lumbar kinematics or disc height changes under different loading conditions in vivo.

Cantilever transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion for upper lumbar degenerative diseases (minimum 2 years follow up).

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of cantilever transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (c-TLIF) for upper lumbar diseases.

Materials And Methods: Seventeen patients (11 males, 6 females; mean ± SD age: 62 ± 14 years) who underwent c-TLIF using kidney type spacers between 2002 and 2008 were retrospectively evaluated, at a mean follow-up of 44.1 ± 12.

Lumbar axial loading device alters lumbar sagittal alignment differently from upright standing position: a computed tomography study.

Study Design: A study was performed using an axial loading device in healthy young subjects.

Objective: To determine whether sagittal alignment during axial loading using a compression device can accurately simulate the standing posture.

Summary Of Background Data: Axial compression devices are widely used for simulation of standing position during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans.

Two-stage (posterior and anterior) surgical treatment of spinal osteomyelitis due to atypical mycobacteria and associated thoracolumbar kyphoscoliosis in a nonimmunocompromised patient.

Study Design: A case report of atypical mycobacterial spinal osteomyelitis.

Objective: To describe a rare case of spinal osteomyelitis and associated thoracolumbar kyphoscoliosis caused by atypical mycobacteria, and successful treatment by a 2-stage surgical intervention.

Summary Of Background Data: Vertebral osteomyelitis caused by atypical mycobacteria is very rare.

Two-stage decompression for combined epiconus and cauda equina syndrome due to multilevel spinal canal stenosis of the thoracolumbar spine: a case report.

Introduction: A case of combined epiconus and cauda equina syndrome due to multilevel spinal canal stenosis of the thoracolumbar spine is reported.

Methods: A 76-year-old man with multilevel spinal canal stenosis of the thoracolumbar spine (Th11-12, L2-S) who showed symptoms of epiconus syndrome was reported. First, we performed anterior decompression and fusion at the thoracolumbar junction (decompression: Th11-12, fusion: Th10-L2), which ameliorated his symptom partially.

Two-staged decompression for thoracic paraparesis due to the combined ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament and the ligamentum flavum: a case report.

Study Design: A case report of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) combined with ossification of the ligamentum flavum, or yellow ligament (OYL), in the upper thoracic spine.

Objective: To describe a rare clinical entity and its management pitfalls in a patient with upper thoracic myelopathy due to combined OPLL and OYL.

Methods: A 52-year-old woman developed paresthesia and paraparesis of both legs.

Two-level posterior lumbar interbody fusion for degenerative disc disease: improved clinical outcome with restoration of lumbar lordosis.

Background Context: Although posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) for degenerative lumbar diseases is routine, there are few reports on double-level PLIF.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of double-level PLIF.

Study Design/setting: A retrospective study of operated cases in Gifu, Japan.