Do Obese and Extremely Obese Patients Lose Weight After Lumbar Spine Fusions? Analysis of a Cohort of 7303 Patients from the Kaiser National Spine Registry.

Unlabelled: MINI: The outcome of interest was ≥ 5% weight change 1 year postoperative from baseline. Seven thousand three hundred three lumbar fusions in the Kaiser Permanente Spine Registry between 2009 and 2013 were analyzed. Weight loss occurred in: body mass index < 30, 11.

Reoperation rates for symptomatic nonunions in posterior cervicothoracic fusions with and without bone morphogenetic protein in a cohort of 450 patients.

OBJECTIVE Fusions across the cervicothoracic junction have been challenging because of the large biomechanical forces exerted resulting in frequent reoperations for nonunions. The objective of this study was to investigate a retrospective cohort using chart review of posterior cervicothoracic spine fusions with and without bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and to determine the reoperation rates for symptomatic nonunions in both groups. METHODS Between January 2009 and September 2013, posterior cervicothoracic spine fusion cases were identified from a large spine registry (Kaiser Permanente).

Reoperation rates for symptomatic nonunions in posterior cervical (subaxial) fusions with and without bone morphogenetic protein in a cohort of 1158 patients.

Objective: Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) was first approved in 2002 for use in single-level anterior lumbar fusions as an alternative to iliac crest grafts. Subsequent studies have concluded that BMP provides superior fusions rates and therefore reduces reoperations for nonunions. The purpose of this study was to determine the reoperation rates for symptomatic nonunions in posterior cervical (subaxial) spinal fusions with and without the use of BMP and to determine if the nonunion rates are statistically significantly different between the two groups.

Occipitocervical Fusions in Elderly Patients: Mortality and Reoperation Rates From a National Spine Registry.

Background: Several studies have shown excellent fusion rates in occipitocervical (OC) fusions, but very little is reported on mortality and reoperation rates in elderly patients. Our article reports these rates in elderly patients from a national spine registry with a >2-year follow-up period.

Methods: Using data from a spine implant registry developed at a large integrated health care system (Kaiser Permanente), elderly patients (aged ≥ 65 years) with instrumented OC fusions between January 1, 2009 and September 30, 2013 were identified.

Reoperation Rates for Symptomatic Nonunions in Anterior Cervical Fusions From a National Spine Registry.

Study Design: A retrospective cohort study with chart review.

Objective: To determine the reoperation rates for symptomatic nonunions for 1-level, 2-level, and 3-level anterior cervical discectomies and fusions (ACDFs) from a national spine registry.

Summary Of Background Data: There is very little data reported in the literature on reoperation rates for symptomatic nonunions after ACDFs.

Risk Factors Associated With 30-day Readmissions After Instrumented Spine Surgery in 14,939 Patients: 30-day readmissions after instrumented spine surgery.

Study Design: A retrospective review of instrumented spine registry from an integrated US healthcare system.

Objective: Investigate the 30-day readmission rate and risk factors after instrumented spine surgery.

Summary Of Background Data: Published readmission rates range from 2% to over 20%.

Does bone morphogenetic protein change the operative nonunion rates in spine fusions?

Study Design: A retrospective cohort study with medical record review.

Objective: To determine if there is difference in the operative nonunion rates with and without the use of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) after spinal fusions by analyzing data from an integrated health care system's spine registry.

Summary Of Background Data: BMP was first approved in 2002 for use in single-level anterior lumbar fusions.

Can triggered electromyography be used to evaluate pedicle screw placement in hydroxyapatite-coated screws: an electrical examination.

Objectives: To assess if hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated titanium pedicle screws exhibit the same electroconductive characteristics as non-HA-coated screws.

Methods: Resistance measurements were obtained from a random sampling of 10 HA-coated pedicle screws and 10 non-HA-coated screws, and surgical conditions simulated. Surface resistivity measurements were taken for each screw to determine voltage drop over its entire length.

The surgical treatment of low back pain.

If nonoperative management fails to relieve a clearly identifiable and surgically treatable cause of lumbar pain, then surgery may be beneficial. Certain "red flags" indicate the need for urgent or emergent surgical intervention. Low back pain is associated with several degenerative conditions in the lumbar spine, including degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, degenerative scoliosis, facet joint syndrome, and disc herniation.

Isometry of the posterior cruciate ligament. Effects of functional load and muscle force application.

The effects of functional load and muscle force application on isometry of the posterior cruciate ligament were determined. Eight fresh-frozen cadaver knees were mounted in a custom-designed rig. A full range of motion and muscle forces were applied through the quadriceps, hamstring, and gastrocnemius tendons during a simulated static squat maneuver.