Factors associated with chronic opioid use after cervical spine surgery for degenerative conditions.

Objective: Opioids are commonly prescribed after surgery for painful spinal conditions, yet little is known about postoperative opioid use. The relationship between chronic opioid use and patient-reported outcomes and satisfaction with surgery is also unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate factors associated with opioid use 1 year after elective cervical spine surgery for degenerative conditions causing radiculopathy and myelopathy.

Interobserver Reliability of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Predictors of Outcome in Cervical Spine Degenerative Conditions.

Background: Although recent work has focused on characterizing quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) markers that may predict outcome among patients with cervical degenerative conditions, little is known about their reliability. Measurement and reporting of these markers is time-consuming and nonstandardized, preventing routine use in clinical care.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed cervical MRI among subjects prospectively enrolled in a health outcomes study of elective surgery for degenerative cervical spine conditions.

Extradural chondroma presenting as lumbar mass with compressive neuropathy.

The identification of a soft tissue chondroma within the spine represents a rarity and is typically not included within the differential diagnosis for patients with sensory complaints of the leg. The authors describe 46-year-old female presenting with 3-week history of decreased sensation and paresthesias of the left leg. Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine demonstrated an L3 extradural soft tissue mass.

Unilateral atlanto-axial fractures in near side impact collisions: An under recognized entity in cervical trauma.

Objective: Nearside impact collisions presenting with lateral mass fractures of atlanto-axial vertebrae contralateral to the impact site represents a rare fracture pattern that does not correlate with previously described injury mechanism. We describe our clinical experience with such fractures and propose a novel description of biomechanical forces involved in this unique injury pattern. The findings serve to alert clinicians to potentially serious consequences of associated unrecognized and untreated vertebral artery injury.